Speak with Love

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head, even Christ:" Ephesians 4:15

Some people think it is their duty to tell others "just how it is". To these people, it doesn't matter how they relay their message, but just that they let the person in question know how they feel about whatever!

They often justify their unholy methods by saying things like: " I don't back down to nobody!" or "It's better I let them know to their face than to speak about them behind their back." or even "____ doesn't know who I am, I'm gonna let ____ know exactly how I feel." The problem is, this type of attitude is usually self driven. And more than likely, the person being given "a piece of their mind" is not confronted in a private setting. Usually the person "attacking with truth" has already shared their plan with someone else or has an audience with them. The person being told off is probably someone the attacker knows is no match to them mentally, physically or socially. Or even if they are a match in one or more areas, this is liable to be a person that they dislike. Either way, it's clear that no love will be shown, despite the level of truth.

The Bible clearly tells us that we should "love one another" and we should "speak the truth in love". To do this means we will show consideration and respect to whomever we are speaking to. Just because the truth is told, (negative or positive) it does not have to be done in a rude manner. Anyone who does not speak with love, should know that the Bible says if we hurt one of His little ones, it would be better to put a millstone around our necks and be thrown in the sea! That gives a pretty clear picture of how important it is not to hurt those we perceive as being "weaker" than ourselves.

A few years ago, it was popular to wear bracelets with WWJD on them, which stood for "What would Jesus do?" Maybe persons who are prone to attack others with truth should have this acronym branded onto their wrist. I don't think...no...I know that the Bible never meant the truth to be used as a weapon to destroy people. As a matter of fact, when Satan tried to tempt Christ, the scriptures he quoted were the truth, but he used them in a distorted way. This is the way of persons who misuse the truth. They use truth in such a way as to tear a person down - in other words, to kill them. Oh yes, there are many ways to kill.

So child of God, if you have been using the truth as your own personal weapon of negative power, you should sit down and do some self evaluating and repenting. That person you think needs a piece of your mind, might be one The Father has sent your way to be gently nudged back on the right path with loving truth. Anyway, none of us need to lose even one cell of our minds. Sons and daughters, speak the truth, but do it with love!

Peace be unto you!

Have I Taken a Vow?

Some persons who read this blog have asked me if I have taken the vow of The Nazarite. I always tell them, "no". At least not in the traditional sense. Because when they ask this, most of them think that I mean I will not cut my hair, abstain from grape products, do not touch dead people etc. which is the literal vow of the Biblical Nazarite. No, I have not taken a vow in that way, but I am forced to ask myself, "Have a taken a vow?" And most importantly, "What is a vow?" The formal definition is:

"a solemn promise or assertion; specifically: one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition."

The first thing that came to my mind when thinking of "vow" is a marriage or a formal, binding contract of some type. This lead me to think on us as the bride of Christ and sons and daughters of God. Did we take a vow when we agreed to follow The Son? Is this what we agreed to do as believers? After all, most of us who are believers have said within our spirits that we choose to live a certain way unto God. But is this a vow?

Still, I must get back to the original subject, "Do I believe that my choice to live in The Nazarite Spirit is the same as the Nazarites of old - in the area of taking vows?" I do believe in abstinence from the vine in a spiritual context. Because the avoidance of the vine is representative of abstaining from worldly living. The avoidance of dead people means that I will not immerse myself in the lifestyle and ways of the spiritually dead. The allowing of the hair to grow represents humbleness. This means I will not get caught up in myself. I will realize that I am a vessel to be used expressly for God's purposes. Will I say that I have taken a vow? No. Why? Well...because I am not under a contract. I do not feel constrained in any way. I feel impelled. This I do freely of my own will because of the Spirit which The Father has placed in me. I pray that The Father will strengthen me in my walk and allow me to come into the perfect fulfillment of what He has for me. It is not because of pressure or bondage or condition or expectation of something for myself. I choose to live in the Nazarite Spirit for as long as The Father leads me to do so. Peace! Blessings! And much Love!