Prodigal: It is such a nice day.
Me: Maybe we should go out today.
Prodigal: Yes, I agree and I can tell you about what I have been reading.
This is from the book Bold Love by Dr. Dan B. Allender & Dr. Tremper Longman III
While love does not require less than kindness, it definitely requires more. The commitment to love often seems to be derailed by our insensitivity or lack of wisdom, but that can never serve as a reason to not venture to love more. It should, however, make us cautious and compel us to consider and reconsider our motives, timing, and concern for the other person before we decide how to handle his or her failures. No amount, of fencing, clarifying, and restating will keep some from seeking to force the Kingdom’s entrance through verbal violence. I can only prayerfully hope to limit the potential misuse.
We go off the path of obedience to the Lord when our main focus in trying to win the fight verbally. We should always seek to ask God for timing and a heart that is focused on Him when we have to share difficult truths with others. By saying it is love and it is really our motive to gain something; we are just making the matter worse.
Psalm 49:2-3
both low and high, rich and poor alike: My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
