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•14耶稣的名声传开了，希律王也听见。有人说：“施洗的约翰从死人中复活了，因此才有这些异能在他里面运行。”15但别人说：“他是以利亚。”又有人说：“是先知，正如先知中的一位。”16希律听见却说：“是我所斩的约翰，他复活了。”17原来，希律为他兄弟腓力的妻子希罗底的缘故，派人去抓了约翰，把他绑了在监狱里，因为希律已经娶了那妇人。18约翰曾对希律说：“你占有你兄弟的妻子是不合法的。”19于是希罗底怀恨他，想要杀他，只是不能。20因为希律怕约翰，知道他是义人，是圣人，所以就保护他，虽然听了他的讲论十分困惑，仍然乐意听他。
告诉人们关于他们自己的真相，有时候会产生后果的。希律的妻子希罗底非常愤怒，因为施洗约翰揭发了他们所犯的奸淫。施洗约翰呼召人们悔改，他不在乎这些人是人群中的普通人，还是法利赛人，甚至是这片土地的统治者。但并不是每个人都想听到关于自己的真相。
我们不应该害怕“用爱心说诚实话” (以弗所书4:15)。然而我们却常常害怕这样做。我们珍惜人与人之间的关系，而不是我们与上帝的关系。更糟糕的是，我们把人与人的关系看得比别人与上帝的关系更重要。当我们看到我们的兄弟或姐妹，或者其他家里的亲属犯奸淫或任何其他罪时，我们是否有足够的勇气指出他们的罪来?我们是否足够的爱他们，以至于我们愿意呼唤他们为罪悔改?当我们说诚实话的时候，即使是出于爱，有时也会产生后果。一种结果，可能是别人对我们干涉他们的事情感到愤怒。但是另一种结果，也可能在他们心里产生真正的悔改和信心。你愿意为了实现后者而冒前者的风险吗?
用爱心说诚实话。这就是神每天用他的话语对你说话的方式。他指出你的罪让你悔改，然后用他的赦免来安慰你。他的目的不是让我们与他隔绝，而是让我们到他跟前来。我们作为上帝在这个世界上传递恩典的使者，我们也应该这样去行。
祷告:主啊，请赐给我勇气，不管后果如何，请让我用爱心对朋友和邻舍说诚实话。求你让我的心充满对你和对邻舍的爱，并且在我的话语中体现出来。阿们。
Mark 6:14-20: King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” 17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. (NIV)
Telling people the truth about themselves has its consequences. Herod’s wife was furious because John the Baptist had called them out on the adultery that they were committing. John called people to repentance, and he didn’t care if they were the average person in the crowd, or one of the Pharisees, or even the ruler of the land. Not everyone wants to hear the truth about themselves.
We cannot be afraid to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Yet we are. We treasure human relationships above our relationship with God. And worse, we treasure human relationships above another person’s relationship with God. When we see a brother or sister, or nephew or niece, or grandson or granddaughter committing adultery or any other sin for that matter, are we brave enough to call them out on it? Do we LOVE THEM ENOUGH to call them to repentance? Speaking the truth, even when we do it in love, has its consequences. That consequence may be anger towards our interference. On the other hand, it may also be one of true repentance and faith. Are you willing to risk the former in order to achieve the latter?
Speak the truth in love. This is how God speaks to you every day in his Word. He calls you out for your sin, and then he comforts you with his forgiveness. His goal is not to separate us from himself, but to draw us closer. We can do no less as God’s messengers of grace in this world.
Prayer: Give me courage to speak the truth in love to my friends and neighbors no matter what the consequences may be. Let my heart and lips always be motivated by my love for you and my neighbor.. Amen.