I Believe in God, but Christians Are So IntolerantSample

JESUS SHOWED US A BETTER WAY

The Bible teaches that our words and actions should be rooted in love. As Peter tells us, we need to be ready to defend our faith and give a reason for the hope we have in Jesus, but gentleness and respect should be the hallmark of these conversations. The key is to know how to disagree well and show humility. Prayerfully ask God to show you the best way to share truth in love and approach difficult conversations with grace. Above all, ask God to search your heart and reveal the intolerance you have for others that can be a barrier to true love for them, and ask Him to give you His love for those with whom you disagree.

Ask Yourself:

-Think back on your conversations of the past week. How could you have been more bold to share the hope you have in Jesus?

-When you stand up for truth, how can remembering the qualities of love spelled out in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 help you speak that truth in love?

Pause to Pray: Jesus, I am helpless to love people the way You call me to love. Will you do what only You can do in my heart and help me see people the way you see them. Help me understand that speaking the truth is a loving thing to do and that I can do it with love because of Your power that works in me. Amen.

Take a Next Step: The next time you need to stand up for truth, be sure to take as much time as you can to pray before speaking a word and ask Jesus to help you speak the truth with gentleness and respect.