Love and Truth

Day 281- Love and Truth

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV

When I claim I love someone, what do I really mean? Is love really seen in words alone or by actions alone?  What is the place of truth and honesty in the reality of love and its expectations? 

Today's extract seeks to give answers to some of these questions. Atimes, out of 'love',  we overlook people's mistakes and offences, glossing over them. We do not want to offend so we avoid. We have children we love so much that we conveniently turn the blind eye as they stumble from one mistake to another offence. Later in life, when the children are fully grown in iniquity and have chosen the path of destruction, can we honestly say it was love that made us overlook their wrongs? 

Does love overlook wrongs to the point of being permissive about everything?  Is love so encompassing that it allows open and deliberate sins without punishment. I doubt it very much. Even God himself, the person of love himself, warns that as a father loves his children, so does he discipline them for their good. It is better to get God to discipline you now, than to allow you get away with deliberate sins and end up in permanent destruction.

When next someone pats you on the back for obvious sins, please run away from such a person. When you know you are doing wrong and someone is urging you on, not pointing out the error but encouraging the evil, know you are in trouble. Outward show of affection does not equate to true love. Kisses do not signify true love. Ask Judas Iscariot. Ask Abel. May I not be deceived by outward pretences. His time of favour is here.