The Spirit Of Truth

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)

YEARS AFTER CATHERINE THE Great became empress of Russia, she recalled her early religious training as a young girl in Germany. Along with other fields of study deemed necessary to prepare her for her future, she had been steeped in Bible instruction. Her tutor had taught her plenty of verses on the love of God and justification by grace through faith. But he drilled them into her with such harshness that she always had difficulty separating in her mind the message from the means of instruction. He taught her the message of grace without demonstrating it at all—words without heart. She had learned the gospel, but it didn’t come across as very good news. And it certainly didn’t seem to follow her throughout her life.

Millions of people share similar experiences of hearing the words of God’s truth in some spirit other than that in which it was first given. This phenomenon is nothing new; Jesus rebuked the religious experts for such hypocrisies. Somehow along the way, Christians got the impression that the truth of God’s love and grace can be conveyed in a spirit that doesn’t reflect him. It can’t. It isn’t the words themselves that have power; it’s the spirit behind the words. Or to put it another way, messengers of the gospel need to actually reflect it.

That should be a sobering thought for anyone who wants to share the love of God with others. His love is not a series of Bible verses to memorize, a doctrine to impart, or a set of teachings to obey. It can only be imparted to others as a demonstration. It’s a lifestyle. Only when the spirit behind our words reflects who God really is do people begin to see him. Otherwise, our words may not have any positive effect at all. Far more important than what we say is how we say it. When a message of love and mercy comes from a heart of love and mercy, lives will be changed.

{Father, you wrapped your love in flesh when you sent Jesus, and I’m asking that I would embody your love in the same way. In my words, actions, attitudes, and every other expression, help me reflect who you really are. Amen.