“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” — 1 John 3:18–20 (NIV84)

At the end of the day, how do we know if we belong to the truth? We know because our hearts are at peace relying upon God’s grace and because our words and actions are seasoned with love and truth. I understand that that one sentence is a mouthful, but it is exactly what the Apostle John is saying in the verses above. When we have been touched by the Spirit of God and have turned our lives over to Him, something powerful takes place. We become born again. A new creature is birthed in us. And that new creature is motivated by God’s grace to speak and act in a consistent fashion with the Holy Spirit. Our words and actions become transformed into the image of Christ. When people hear and see us, they hear and see the love and truth of Jesus Christ. They can tell that something outside ourselves is motivating and changing us from the inside out.

There is a world out there that does not accept a biblical worldview. That is a given. Some tend to view us with very critical eyes. That does not give us the right to do the same back. We must lovingly speak the truth. Over and over again, like waves hitting the shore, we must lovingly speak truth to their minds, hearts, and lives. Deep down they hunger for answers to the important questions about life and death, good and evil, right and wrong. We must find ways to have productive and constructive conversations with those of opposing worldviews. We need to leave judgments, criticisms, and negativity behind us, and love them as God has loved us. By the way, God loves them, the same as He loves us. We need to find ways to reach them with the truth.

I pray that God’s truth and love are the source of all we say and do!

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church