Written by: Dwain Wolfe
It’s so important that we love the truth, rather than love being loved. These two concepts will certainly bring conflict of soul. If we love being loved, we may compromise or withhold the truth. Our role with the world is not to be loved, or even liked. Our job is to be respected. Parents can faulter under this same conflict. Many a parent has wanted to be liked by their child, even loved by their child. In this mode the parent finds themselves conflicted over disciple, truth and correction. When the parent verses into these items, acting as a parent, the child rejects the parent and conflict arises. If the parent is overcome with feelings of rejection, they may at the point of conflict retreat from truth, correction and discipline.
Not only are we called to love truth, but we are also called to love the Father of truth above all things. Therefore, pleasing Him, even if that means using convicting and corrective words, is more important than pleasing any audience.
Every person is tempted to give in to the seduction of pleasing their audience. This is not the life of Jesus. Jesus lived for the audience of one. We are called to do the same.
We seem to have the false idea that our faith should never bring conflict with anyone. Again, this is not truth. Jesus said he came to bring a sword. That his message would separate the closest of friends.
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:34-38
Again, our mission is not to be loved, our mission is to bring truth and salvation. Jesus said, if they hated Him, they will hate you (the disciple). This is not just relevant to a non-believing crowd, but to a believing one as well. The most important message is always they one He wants you to bring.
Let’s examine our own lives during the Daniel Fast. Have you become afraid to speak the truth? Have you been moved by your listeners instead of the Holy Spirit? Have you withheld something that Father wanted you to say because of who was listening? Are you free of rejection and the fear of being rejected – judged and spoken of in a negative way? Break free. Overcome! Wrestle down the darkness and get your victory.