Speaking The Truth In Love
Good morning Immanuel. The only way to get past self-absorption so that we are free to love is to be satisfied in the love of the one person whose opinion of us is defining.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ (Ephesians 4:15)”
We have this superpower from Jesus called "speaking the truth in love." And we can use this power to build a heavenly ecosystem of human flourishing in this world, where people can experience the love of Christ. Or not. The thing that stands in the way is not our ability to speak the truth. The thing that stands in the way is our self-absorption. The only way to get past self-absorption so that we are free to love is to be satisfied in the love of the one person whose opinion of us is defining. We'll never be able to love in a way that doesn't need love in return until we're drawing on the only love we cannot exhaust.
Dear friend, Jesus loves you like that. He loves you without needing love in return. Your love is not energizing His love. He loves you because He wants to love you. He went to the cross for you, not so that He could love you but because He already loved you so. The cross is the proof of His love for you. Now you are free to cease striving. Now you are free to focus on your neighbor, needing nothing in return. Finally, you're free to live for others because Christ lives for you.
This excerpt was taken from a sermon preached by Pastor TJ Tims on April 23, 2023, at Immanuel Nashville.
So helpful, thank you 🙏🏼