A Willingness to Speak Up

Yesterday I was at church for a gathering of our small groups where we all got together and brought all types of food for a meal. After we ate, some folks shared testimonies how the small groups had impacted their lives. Once the meeting was done and we were cleaned up, we started to pack up and leave. Before I left, I had one of our ladies pull me aside and told me her concerns about a discussion we had in our last small group meeting. We talked it over and I told her I appreciated her willingness to express her thoughts. Most people would have kept tight lipped and just let their thoughts go unexpressed.

In this case, she had a good point that she made. I acknowledged that she was right and that I should not have shared my thoughts the way I did. After I left, I began to think about what she shared and how it could impact others. As I thought it over, I realized that sometimes when someone does feel as though they need to share something that is meant to exhort us we feel offended or get upset. I knew that she was sharing with me because she cared so I willingly accepted her words in the nature they were shared. I hope that I will be willing to listen in the future when someone shares a similar concern. Let's face it. We as humans don't like being corrected or told when we did something wrong. It goes against the old nature. As a supervisor both in the military and in the civilian world I have had to address those under my supervision when they failed to meet standards. If I didn't address their shortcomings then not only did they fail but I did as well. It is a supervisor's task to help those under him or her to know how they are doing and where do they need to improve. God is no different. The difference is that God is always right when He confronts us about our sin and failures. But He does it in love and with the purpose of restoring us and not condemning us because of it. He is still in the business of redeeming and restoring those who are lost. We need to learn to encourage, exhort and rebuke, when necessary, but remember to always do it in love.

I am glad that she spoke to me about what she felt. I know that she is sensitive to the Spirit so I was willing to listen to her. I trust that I too can be sensitive to God's leading if I am led to confront a fellow believer at His direction. It may not always be a fun thing for us to do but if we care about others we will step out in love and in faith to do His will. Just remember the blessings you can bring into that person's life not to mention your own!