What Do They Smell?

I see a lot of criticism on FaceBook and other forums when people speak of various issues and call them sin. Folks are reminded of “Judge not, lest ye be judged” and called unloving and lacking grace, etc, etc. However, while there are times when I have seen truth spoken in an unloving and graceless manner truth is still truth.

If God's Word speaks to an issue then that issue has already been judged and if you choose not to speak the truth about the issue than you do not love nor have mercy for until a person comes to see the truth he cannot receive forgiveness. If you do not wish to see a person forgiven and set free how then can you say that you love them and know the meaning of grace? It matters not the issue. Grace and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ and we are to speak the TRUTH in love. After all, Jesus said I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. The three are like a trinity. Grace, truth and love are together or you have none of them.

No one received the grace and love of God into their life until they received the truth about God and man and man's situation. Sin is sin whether it is telling a lie or murder so there are no more important things in that light. That is why the Holy Spirit was sent to lead us into “all truth” not just the convenient truths that we love to hear. Sometimes the truth is negative and hurts, but just as surgery is a harsh method of dealing with heart trouble it is often the only mean of preventing death. Truth spoken in love as we are commanded may at times seem to be unloving or not of grace, but the reality is that it is the only way to save a soul from death.

If you truly love and wish to show grace to someone then tell them the truth in love in the prayerful hope they will choose to receive it and the grace and forgiveness that comes with it. Their reaction may be to reject it and curse the messenger, but that is not to deter you. Jesus was the epitome of speaking the truth in love and still they cried, “Crucify Him!” The Apostles also died at the hands of those they sought to bring to the love of God. Though many believed and received others rejected. That was within their rights as individuals with a free will. It is our duty as ambassadors of Christ and His Kingdom to present the message of truth. A person will not know His need for Christ and His forgiveness if they do not know that they are sinners. Holding back truth is not being graceful for you do not know what truth will be the one to bring them to conviction and salvation.

2 Cor 2:14-17

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causerie us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. KJV

Had a fellow tell a girl once, “You stink good!” An odor is an odor. The only difference between a sweet smell and a stink is the opinion of the one doing the smelling. Are you manifesting His savor in every place? Let those who smell it make their choice what to call it. Maranatha!