[1 John Series 4] The Heavenly CourtroomНамуна

Live boldly but speak kindly

This is the fourth reading plan in the series on the First Epistle of John. On previous plans, we meditated on the first chapter in the book. Now, we will focus on the opening verses of the second chapter.

The first thing John says in 1 John 2 is, “My little children.” He uses this phrase all throughout the book to speak to us. He is now an elder who is pleading with us to receive what he has to say. He is speaking kindly. Then, without being harsh, he declares something very bold: “I want to tell you these things so that you will not sin.” What we learn in these opening verses of 1 John 2 is to live boldly but speak kindly. We want to live boldly in our faith, pray for people, share Christ, and take risks in obedience to God. Nobody has ever wanted to live timidly.

But sometimes we can live so boldly that we forget to speak kindly. As husbands, we need to be men of ambition, going forward in leadership in our families, but we shouldn’t forget to speak kindly to our wife and children. At the same time, if we never make a decision because we are worried about that somebody else will think we are wrong, or because we don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, we will never do anything. Being bold will sometimes mean acting in obedience to what we have heard or learned from God.

Have you noticed that we live in a world where we do not speak kindly? Do you ever turn on the TV and it is like everybody is fighting? To speak kindly, but live boldly, sets a different tone. It has nothing to do with sarcasm, belittling, or humiliating others. It is far from disrespecting authority, tearing down, or putting down people. It has everything to do with speaking the truth in love, building others up, and being the example of what we would ask from anyone else. God has a plan for you and when we follow the heavenly advice, we are partnering with Him to bring life. 

The beauty of Christianity is that you can be an amazingly loving person and also live boldly and speak strongly. To be able to put those two things together is huge.