Sometimes it is hard to hear the truth about ourselves. Sometimes our "enemies" speak it as Shemeia did to King David as he called him "a man of blood" and threw rocks at him. Usually when we hear a hard truth about ourselves from an enemy we don't listen or acknowledge it. David was an exception to the rule here as he heard Shemeia's cursing without striking back, as he said: "perhaps the Lord has bidden him to curse."
In my experience, even though I might acknowledge there is some truth in an enemy's criticism of me, I never really face what is inside of me. However, when someone who really cares about me speaks the truth to me, about me, it is very different. Because when someone who loves you speaks a word of truth about you, you can tell that they are standing with you, in a sense facing the truth about you with you. It is this kind of love that God gives to human beings, and it is this kind of love that gives God room to save and heal.
When Jesus spoke a critical word of truth to a man or woman, he did not distance himself from that person, but drew close to them to heal and help and fellowship with that one. This is why Zaccheaus was able to hope and receive love and share it with others when he was loved by Jesus. This is why the Samaritan woman at the well rejoiced and celebrated the new life she experienced with others when she experienced her true dignity in her fellowship with Jesus. This is why Paul tells the Galatians: "Bear you one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." It leads me to say: "There is no real truth without mercy, and there is no real mercy without truth." Amen.
In my experience, even though I might acknowledge there is some truth in an enemy's criticism of me, I never really face what is inside of me. However, when someone who really cares about me speaks the truth to me, about me, it is very different. Because when someone who loves you speaks a word of truth about you, you can tell that they are standing with you, in a sense facing the truth about you with you. It is this kind of love that God gives to human beings, and it is this kind of love that gives God room to save and heal.
When Jesus spoke a critical word of truth to a man or woman, he did not distance himself from that person, but drew close to them to heal and help and fellowship with that one. This is why Zaccheaus was able to hope and receive love and share it with others when he was loved by Jesus. This is why the Samaritan woman at the well rejoiced and celebrated the new life she experienced with others when she experienced her true dignity in her fellowship with Jesus. This is why Paul tells the Galatians: "Bear you one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." It leads me to say: "There is no real truth without mercy, and there is no real mercy without truth." Amen.
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