As believers in Jesus we are called to be ministers, to reconcile people to the Lord bY the Gospel. This can take time, patience, long suffering.

It can be easy to forget what has initially happened to us when we first believed. The world can swallow us up in its ways to make us ineffective. On the other hand, we can be so zealous that pride can find a place and taint what we do and also make us ineffective.

Not only are we to disciple others but we are to try and keep each other accountable.

There are those whose knowledge of scripture in their memory excel. But when they are confronted with challenges, this knowledge becomes sedimentary and they react as immature children both biblically and emotionally.

They have no desire to find out what is true, and how to actually help persons in need, they are only about being right. What kind of person does not want to help others when they are hurting and prevent others from doing more harm.

God is just as concerned with our attitude, our intentions and our motivation than OUR knowledge. As Paul said in 1 Cor. 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

Love means being other centered, which can be used to encourage someone, as well as correct. If we do not get this, then we should stop ministering and reassess what we are doing and whom we are serving. As we are admonished “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12)

One of the descriptions of love from Paul is that love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6). If you are walking in love you do not fear the truth but embrace it. even if it hurts you or another.

John wrote To THE ELDER (who he left in charge of the church), To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth” 3 Jn. 1:4-5 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers”

They had no hypocrisy they treated all in love and truth was the focus of their lives.

People are looking for practical teaching that will help them grow and live out their faith. We are to be a help when we can, and minister Christ to believers and unbelievers alike. Love must be present, this love is patient and longsuffering but it does not compromise what is true.

Is truth a theory or is it the focus of your life? Is truth what you believe but not what you stand for when the opportunity presents itself? Is truth your compass in life or just what you use to accomplish your goals?

Liars are found everywhere, in fact, there is such a small percentage of people that keep their word and have integrity these days that real honesty is hard to find, even among friends. It’s not being taught, not even in the church. The most detestable are religious liars.

God is looking for us to be sincere, pure in heart as we pour our lives into others.

When we are less than honest or betray a brother, that relationship is severed and needs repair. The only thing that brings it back is honesty with repentance.

Its pride that keeps us from humbling ourselves to admit we were wrong. Its pride that keeps one from looking at the mirror and seeing the truth. But truth always confronts what is false, and when it is done with the right intentions it will yield good fruit.

You can have right motives and do something wrong, you can have a wrong motive and do something right, or, you can have right motives and do something right, God’s way will result in God’s will being done; peace will follow.

Our detachment in pursuing the truth, covering it up or ignoring it reveals we have a cold heart.

Paul wrote to a church he nurtured that were being misled by law keepers who claimed to be believers in Christ “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? (Gal. 4:16). He needed to bring them back into grace

The deceived only see the positive while those who discern will see both good and bad, unfortunately the bad outweighs the good in our day and needs to be addressed.

Some people live under a self made delusion that because they have a position of pastor, or they are admired as teacher, they think they are never wrong. There some people who seem to have great knowledge of the word and are so dependent on their knowledge they justify their actions when they act contrary to the nature of Jesus.

It is those that do not adhere to biblical instruction when it’s necessary that get themselves and others in trouble. It’s one things to have oneself wander off, it’s a whole different matter when you lead others into your wandering.

We are told in Deut. 16:19 "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.”

Prov 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Ps 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids test the sons of men.

Jer. 20:12: “But, O LORD of hosts, you who test the righteous, and see the mind and heart”

The heart of the matter is the heart.

Living in the truth is not saying my heart was right in what I did. Maybe yes, maybe no. We do not measure truth by our heart but by a greater standard, one that is objective and is not subjective to human feelings and emotions. People do lie to themselves about all kinds of things.

Jer. 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Some claim that our heart is changed, it is no longer deceitful. Last time I read the Bible it said we have a fleshly fallen human nature to live through (though our Spirit is renewed.)

There are times we do not know why we do things. We can train ourselves in righteousness and can often act in a godly manner but not always, we still fail. Looking into the mirror of the word tells us this. If it doesn’t then we are not really paying attention or our conscience has been damaged.

Its not about good intentions. Cain had a good intentions but God found it unacceptable. You can be sincerely wrong and have good intentions.

We can’t simply lower expectations to be comfortable, we should strive for excellence in our living and our relationships, and that means keeping our word. and if we keep our word we will keep our relationships.