October 5 - The Truth Hurts.

Galatians 4:16
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”
 
Knocking on a door, smiling cordially and greeting the resident as they wonder why you are standing on their doorstep is the easy part. The conversation is friendly until you tell them you are with so and so Baptist church and are out in the area inviting people to come to your services. Suddenly the look on the homeowner’s face changes from friendly to annoyed. They nod and make an excuse as to why they haven’t been to church in years, and they may or may not be surprised as you turn the conversation to ask them that all important question…”If you died today, are you 100% sure you’d go to Heaven?” The annoyed expression has turned again, but this time to intrusive and distant. The Truth hurts.
 
Jesus told Nicodemus the Truth when he acknowledged that Jesus was come from God.
John 3:3
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
 
Have you ever asked a friend, “hey, can we talk?” and you can tell they instantly get the feeling that something is wrong? The defensive maneuvers go up as they prepare for an assumed attack of some sort and a guilty look appears on their face. The truth hurts.
 
The Lord sent Nathan to rebuke David for his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.
2 Samuel 12:1,7
“And the Lord sent Nathan unto David… And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.”
 
The truth hurts sometimes, and with that feeling our flesh tends to treat those who are delivering or reminding us of it most of the time get the brunt of our feelings. We do not like to be told or even realize that we are in the wrong. Our flesh oftentimes shoots the messenger so to speak…perhaps you know the feeling. To be treated like the enemy is never fun, but how else will they or we learn the truth? Someone must tell them, and someone must tell us.
 
God uses people to reach others with the Gospel.
He can use you to reach others with the Truth. You were once on the receiving side, and needed someone to tell you the Truth in love.
 
God places people in our lives to tell us when we are wrong.
He can use you to lovingly tell others when they are wrong.
 
Sometimes we are the ones that need told we are wrong.
Should we treat the messenger as our enemy?
 
The truth hurts sometimes, but the Truth is needful.
We can approach and respond to the Truth in love.
The Word of God is our Final Authority and the Source of Truth.
Allow the Scripture to bring out the Truth in your life today.
 
2 Timothy 3:16
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 49-50  |  John 2  |  Psalm 67