Fear No Fear

“But let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37, MEV). Jesus loves us enough to teach us honesty, integrity, and simplicity in our speech. Jesus wasn’t mean. The only harsh things He ever said was said to a small group of people who had spent their entire lives learning the scriptures and therefore KNEW BETTER. Jesus didn’t let things slide with other people. He was totally honest. He didn’t hide. He spoke the truth from God’s point of view. But He did it all with love. He didn’t berate people. He didn’t shame them. He didn’t call for attacks against them. Yes, He told them if they or their thinking or their behaviour was wrong. But the point wasn’t the wrongness. The point was always the ability to turn back to God. God’s love. God’s mercy. God’s goodness. God’s grace. Jesus always pushed for repentance and entrance into the Kingdom of God. That was ALWAYS the point of what Jesus taught. Us getting it right by humbly submitting to the scriptures and what they taught about God. Jesus pushed trust in God and how we could rely on God to be trustworthy. Jesus often asked questions. He gave WAY more questions than He ever provided answers. He did that (among other reasons) to encourage thinking. To get people to investigate their motivations. To make sure they were approaching the issue the correct way. He gave them space to figure things out without needing to be beaten over the head. Jesus can teach US to speak this same way. He can teach us how to encourage thinking. To make sure we are valuing the people we speak to. To make sure we are giving space to let the Lord move in their lives and to let them learn more about what’s in their own hearts. To challenge WITHOUT condemnation. To call for understanding, not for torches. Jesus ALWAYS comes from love. If we listen to Him, we can too. He loves us enough to teach us. Do we love Him enough to learn?