Sometimes I receive emails or Facebook messages from old friends telling me that they read my blog. So far, every message I've gotten from past relationships concerning my blog have been extremely positive. The messages are unexpected and encouraging.
This weekend I got a message from someone that helped bring a youth group to Tucson for a mission trip when we were young church plant. This was how she ended the message to me: "You do a great job of speaking truth but at the same time not making your walk with God look like a total drag." Thanks, Rita!
I don't say any of this stuff to toot my own horn. Pride is gross. False humility is also gross.
The reason I'm sharing this is to encourage all of us to be bold! Speak truth! But, don't be annoying and lame.
Is that harsh?
How many times have I heard people talk about being persecuted in work or school situations for their faith only to find out that they are super self-righteous and unrelatable? Sometimes we aren't actually being persecuted for our faith, but being shunned because we forgot to have social skills, and then blame it on our faith.
Here are a few of my favorite passages concerning speaking truth, but not making your walk with Christ look like a total drag:
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (The Living Bible)
It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling his good news to others, and so we never give up. We do not try to trick people into believing - we are not interested in fooling anyone. We never try to get anyone to believe the Bible teaches what it doesn’t. All such shameful methods we forego. We stand in presence of God as we speak and so we tell the truth, as all who know us will agree.
Colossians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so you may know how to answer everyone.
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
Every passage speaks so clearly about the importance of being bold in sharing your relationship with Jesus with others. Also, every passage speaks so clearly about the need to show that through your relationship with Jesus you know how to love people...not being a trickster, full of grace and mercy, hope, gentleness, respect.
I want to boldly speak truth, show people that I love Jesus, that following Him is joyful. Sometimes it is fun, adventurous, very difficult, but never a drag.
What about you? How would you describe your walk with Jesus right now? What are you doing to keep it from becoming a drag?
6 important comments so far. What are your thoughts?
I just found you via the Call Me Blessed link up. I'm in Tucson too :) Soooo fun to meet you!! xo
i am so grateful for those scriptures!
seriously, name a more exciting, more emotionally riveting, more brilliant set of stories...and 1000% true! the bible is a creative work. god is not a drag, living for him should certainly not be;) LOVE this, praise jesus.
you shine brightly and reflect HIS awesomeness!
so true about people who say they're being persecuted for their faith, but are just not at all speaking the truth in love! this is important stuff. thanks for the reminder. i'm often reminded (by the Holy Spirit) that unless i have love, my words may as well be a clanging cymbal. that is WORSE than a drag. and i've been that many a time in my home. yuck! so that's what i'm working on; making sure love is behind my every attempt at speaking truth.
false humility is gross. i SOOO need to say 'amen' to that! thanks for living for Him in a non-draggy way :)
<3
loving this post and the verses.
i am working on seeing my cup half full opposed to half empty because with God all is full.
This is so true. I loved your line, "we aren't actually being persecuted for our faith, but being shunned because we forgot to have social skills..." hahaha! This so funny, because how often we watch a show where a 'Christian' is on and watch with embarrassment as they give Christianity a bad name. We as believers ought to live lives full of joy that others would covet what we have- JESUS!
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