In Love

I have been in many church services and home groups where confronting others with their wrong doings has been said to be the loving thing to do. This has been taught for generations and maybe like me you have even instructed others accordingly.

In all his time on earth Jesus never confronted people with what they had done wrong except when they believed that they were acting in righteousness and representing God.

Look at the woman caught in adultery. According to the scriptures she was to be stoned to death. Jesus goes against the scripture to reveal the heart of God… And it is one of compassion, mercy and without condemnation. Confronting others with their wrong doings only brings condemnation and says to others that God is a God who condemns. This is not the heart of Jesus or his Father.

I know so many people then respond that confronting others must be done in love. But the Pharisees believed themselves to be bringing the ways of God and they were also very keen to bring condemnation to others. There is an eternal difference between doing something we believe to be loving and Father’s Love doing something in us that reveals God to others.

The apostle Paul says do everything in Love. And without Love I am just a clanging gong. What love is he talking about? God’s Love. Father’s Love sees people’s heart and understands why they are doing what they are doing. He just wants bring whatever is needed to bring comfort, healing and joy into our hearts so He can dwell in that area our heart as well. There is now no condemnation because we live in the same Love Jesus lived in.

It is Father’s comforting, compassionate and merciful Love that is daily healing and changing my heart in any and every mess I invite Him into. It is this Love that I want everyone to experience and live in.

I’m not saying that confronting others is wrong. What I see is that Father always knows the heart of the matter but I too often see the outward actions and appearances. Whenever I have taken the time to get to know someone’s background I have always realised that I don’t even know half of their story. And once I do know their story I am moved with understanding and compassion and a desire to see them experience Father’s comfort.

Father give me your eyes to see the heart of others as you see them, give me your heart for them to bring your arms and give me your words to speak as you would say them and most importantly give me the boldness to ask others for forgiveness when I don’t act with your heart.