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The subtitle of this article poses an interesting question. But it is incomplete for today’s post. The full question is, “Do you love me enough to tell me the truth?” Jesus asked Peter a variation of this question. Basically, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Jesus. Not just once or twice, but three times. Peter responded by affirming his love of Jesus each time he was asked. I can imagine the frustration Peter may have felt when replying the second and third time. Merely asking the question ONCE, can feel offensive and perhaps more like a cross examination if asked more than once. Nonetheless, this article does not shy away from asking you the reader, “Do you love me enough to tell me the truth?”

This article presumes you (the reader) are SAVED. You have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You believe Jesus will one day return and will eventually reign forever. You know God is real based on your own personal testimonies and encounters with God. You strive to walk the straight and narrow while admitting your own imperfections. You have adopted Christian disciples such as studying the Word of God, praying often, and always seeking God’s council. This article is written to such a person. If this is not you, then invite God to get you there. Desperately needed are more laborers for the Lord’s harvest, more witnesses for Christ, more disciples/learners who seek to please God as well as share the good news of salvation to others. All believers are needed in this good fight of faith. Again, presuming you are a genuine follower of Christ, please read on.

For a few moments, imagine I am not saved and you have the opportunity to interact with me. Consider these possibilities. If I believed all good people go to heaven when they die, would you love me enough to tell me the truth? Would you tell me that everyone is born in sin and shaped in iniquity? Would you tell me that unless I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I would have to pay for my own sins, because the wages of sin is death? Would you tell me that I along with so many other people will spend eternity in hell? Or might you rather not offend, alienate, or turn me off? What if I believed there is no God and we pretty much stop existing when we die? Would you love me enough to tell me the truth, that God is real and that rejecting Him is a sure-fire way to reap eternal death. Would you tell me God offers the only way of escape and that way would be Jesus the Son of God? Can you love me and others enough to tell us the truth? I propose that if you love someone, you will always be truthful with them even if they reject the truth. Being truthful is a sign of respect rather than a move of manipulation. Withholding the truth is way of permitting lies to flourish, which makes us complicit. Rather, let us love with our whole heart to tell the whole truth about God’s remedy for our fallen condition. Decide once and for all to be truthful and to always operate out of love for God and love for others. Recognize that being a witness for Jesus is not something you do alone. Rather, it is always in cooperation with God through prayer and a growing knowledge of God’s Word.

In the coming weeks, I will share ideas on how you can help a loved one make an informed decision about their eternal destination. Bear in mind, God has given each of us free will and each of us must choose which God we will serve. So, your task is to either plant or water, but it is God’s responsibility to give the increase. So, if someone elects to ignore the invitation to salvation, that’s their right to choose. On the other hand, never give up. It may very well take 10 attempts before you begin to see a subtle shift. Perhaps the eleventh time might be the tipping point. Remember, love is the driver. Genuine love will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help us God. Here is a Bible verse to consider as you pray for God’s guidance,

Matthew 22:37–39 (KJV 1900) [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

A songwriter asked the question, “What’s love got to do with it?” It seems God’s response is, “EVERYTHING!” My beloved, I encourage you to love others enough to always share the truth. See you next week for our second article in this EVANGELISM SERIES. PEACE...