Emotions stirred.

Pride prodded.

Indignant voices raised on either side – “I must be right.”

How easily are we manipulated by emotions…

While wisdom and truth are “crying out in the streets.” (Proverbs 1)

The feigned chase is on, but the disguise is ignorance.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” (Psalm 111:10)

There is right and there is wrong.

There is truth and there is fiction.

But within those foundations, there is also room for humble dialog.

There is opportunity to speak and to truly listen.

There is a place where respect can flow even out of disagreement.

But when we want to speak before we pray and to be heard more than we want to listen and where there is no desire for wisdom and truth:

Pride and anger swell.

Relationships crumble.

And silence overtakes conversation.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8

If we speak, we must guard against hearing ourselves talk “to be right” and first ask prayerfully, “Am I speaking truth and am I speaking it in such a way that honors the LORD regardless of the response?” followed by “Am I listening to what’s behind their words?”

By speaking the truth with kindness and in love, but without compromise, we will display the Living Hope in whom we rest and “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:1

We speak the truth because of love – love for the Lord and love for the person!

And if, in those conversations, we speak truth with love and kindness and it is not received well, is our response to be disgust and anger?

No.

It should be and must be continually the love of Christ that compels us to pray for the other or others and that desires their good and the glory of God!

“Grace, and peace be multiplied to you, in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” II Peter 1:2

His mercies are new every morning!