Opening Prayer: “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.”
Daily Scripture Reading:
- Genesis 40:16-22
- Proverbs 27:5-6
- Acts 20:20
- Ephesians 4:14-16
“Hard words, if they be true, are better than soft words, if they be false.” -Charles Spurgeon
After the baker saw that Joesph’s interpretation of the cupbearer’s dream was “favorable” he stepped right up, expecting to hear the good news of his own imminent release. Unfortunately, that’s not what he got. Instead, Jospeh was faithful to speak the truth, rather than tell him what he wanted to hear. Obviously, this is an extreme example. Most of us will not be called to reveal forthcoming death by impalement, but we are called to speak the truth in love to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are living in a moment in history that says love is singularly defined as agreeing with and affirming every lifestyle choice, emotion, and behavior of another. We are lied to by culture and told if you love someone you will simply support whatever they want to do. The problem is that this view doesn’t line up with Scripture or with reality. You don’t have to look very hard to see a world that is dying of their own indulgences and desperate for a better way. The Bible calls us to something different.
None of us would discover a drowning friend and not do everything in our power to save them. We would risk life and limb to pull them out of danger, even if they struggled against us and claimed the water was fine. But do we fight as hard when a friend says they want a divorce, continues in a destructive addiction, turns their back on godly community, speaks death over their children? Are we brave enough to offend? Are we willing to swim upstream in these cultural waters to reclaim Truth as love and courageous enough to not affirm and agree with sin?
On the flip side, are we the kind of Christ followers who can view the Truth as love in our own lives? Are we willing to humble ourselves and listen when a brother or sister comes to pull us out of our own murky waters? Do we trust others with our blindspots or are we only after “favorable” affirmations? Proverbs 27:6 says, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted.” Are you a brave enough to wound a friend when it is needed? Are you humble enough to trust the wounds of a friend when you are drowning? The most important part you can play in someone else’s dream may be reminding them not to sabotage it!
Today’s Big Questions: Has there ever been a time when you knew you were supposed to speak the Truth in love to someone even though they only wanted you to affirm their sin? Were you brave enough to do it or did you shrink back? How did that feel? Can you think of a time when someone else was brave enough to call you out of your sin? How did you react?
Prayer Response: Today, pray Paul’s words from Acts 20:20; “Lord, I ask that you would find me a faithful friend and give me the power not to hesitate to speak the Truth that would be helpful to others.” Ask the Holy Spirit if there is any situation He is calling you to be courageous and speak hard words into.
Optional Action Step: If someone else has ever bravely spoken difficult Truth into your life and helped to pull you out of sin, take a moment today to write them a letter, send them a text, or call them to say thank you. If you have ever spoken Truth to a friend and they received it and redirected their ways, reach out to them to say that you recognize the changes they have made and that they are on the right track.
Closing Prayer: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”