20 Days Of Relational HealthExemplo

At each moment, I’m either loving myself or others. It seems there’s no middle ground. When I treat others as Christ treats me, He initiates healing and builds community through me. When my pride rises up, rooted in self-love, many of my ugliest behaviors follow. 

About ten years ago, I began to ask some hard questions regarding my faith and the credibility of the Bible. I wanted to know—was Jonah really swallowed by a whale? Was there really a worldwide flood? Did Lot’s wife really turn into a pillar of salt?

Those questions led to an in-depth study I soon wanted to share with others, so I did. My motives were pure and stemmed from my love for God and the Bible. Initially our time felt special and inspired. Each week, I’d meet with a group of women while volunteers taught our little ones arts and crafts.

Until Sue[1] arrived and quickly turned argumentative. I took her challenge as an invitation and, puffed up with “knowledge,” accepted. 

Soon, the pleasant, Christ-centered discussion among a handful of moms turned into a tense battle over words. 

My focus shifted off of God, others, and the truth and onto a desire to win the argument. My self-love, my pride, pulled me in when I should’ve walked away, and I allowed the woman to dominate and divert our previously pleasant conversation. 

Truth and love, real love, are intertwined. In my interactions with others, I must never sacrifice truth for love nor love for truth. Whenever I do, people get hurt and relationships suffer. 

Scripture tells us God has entrusted us with the gospel. This saving truth has the power to set man free. With each word, we’re either pointing others to our Savior and an eternity with Him, or we’re getting in God’s way. 

May we always be ready to speak truth, but may that truth always be blanketed in love.
   

[1] Name changed for privacy purposes

~ Jennifer Slattery