Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So… if we are faithful, we stink.

Or smell good, depending on who smells us.

I try to be a people pleaser.

It works really well at work. Most of my customers love me.

Even in ministry, I am well liked and respected by many.

But some people don’t like what I have to say.

Of course, the people pleaser in me would prefer to try to make those people like me.

But sometimes we just have to tell the truth.

And the truth can be tough to hear.

I am not called to criticize people. Despite what some say, I don’t think anyone is.

I also think arguing is a terrible way to try to win people to the Lord.

But I am called to speak the truth in love.

If I fail to do that because I’m afraid of what people think of me, then I fail God and I fail those people.

To some, those words will have the stench of death. But if the truth goes unspoken, there will be no hope of that stink changing to sweet perfume.

Have you ever made some one angry by speaking the truth in Love?
How do you know you are speaking in love and not judgement?