By: Undre Griggs, Jr.

The body of Christ is expected to be honest with each other because of the benefits the truth provides.  When we tell each other the truth, it provides an opportunity to defend or correct an action.

Ephesians 4:25 (NIV): Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Speaking the truth in love also motivates us to make sure we are accurate in our questions and critiques.  When we are silent and avoid the truth, the process of correction is nullified.  Those who would make a change for a better if provided the opportunity are never afforded one.  The preparation we would undertake to make sure everything we said was accurate is also voided.  As one body, it is our responsibility to make sure we are all right with God.  It is our responsibility to love others more than we love ourselves, and that often means leaving our comfort zone.  There is a misconception that telling people what they need to hear is worse than accepting someone no matter the issue.  When we accept someone no matter the issue, we are essentially saying we don’t believe they have the potential to be better.  We believe they are going to hear our words, get offended and the only thing that will change is their perception of us.  Even if that is the case, if we love others more than we love ourselves we will be willing to put our relationship on the line for their wellbeing.  That was a problem the church in Corinth was unwilling to face.  The Apostle Paul was bewildered by the fact the church allowed a member to be married to his father’s wife (1 Corinthians 5:1) without anyone correcting him.  The problem with an unwillingness to correct each other is we are allowing the only opportunity for correction to be the Judgement Day, and by then it will be too late.

1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV): The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

When we love each other the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to do anything to save them from destruction.  The Apostle Paul describes it as keeping a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.  When we know something that can help someone and we don’t offer to help them, it should weigh on us.  It should be difficult for us to keep a good conscience knowing what awaits the unfaithful.  The Bible says it is a sin when we know right and do not make an effort to live righteously (James 4:17).  With this being the case, how can we keep a pure heart if we are sinning when we are not honest with each other?  A pure heart is one that is aligned with Christ, walking the path of righteousness in truth and Spirit.  Our faith and hope is Jesus Christ and His return for us.  If we are sincere in our faith, we will proclaim the Gospel until his return; and that requires us to honest and truthful with each other.

By: Undre Griggs, Jr.

When we find ourselves suffering, we may discover ourselves questioning God’s plan.  This is especially true when we feel we have been suffering for an extended period of time.  I think we all understand that bad things happen to good people, but we feel it should pass at some point.  When the time of what we consider “reasonable” expires, we can grow impatient and wonder why is this happening.  We may wonder if God is pleased with us, or if He is trying to provoke a change in our life; but sometimes suffering comes by chance as it “rains on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).  Sometimes suffering come by way of the people we associate with and the situations we put ourselves in; and yes suffering can come because God is trying to get our attention.

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV):  Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Even though we may find ourselves suffering while here on earth, we should find comfort if our soul is right with the Lord.  The faithful understand in a world full of sin that suffering is a part of life.  While peace and happiness on earth is promised to no one, it is promised to those who are faithful until death (Revelations 2:10).

The Apostle Peter encourages the church by first making sure the church understood that trials are going to come.  Jesus Christ himself said the world will hate His followers because the world hated Him first (John 15:8).  Peter’s response to suffering is the same response we find throughout Scripture - focus on the eternal reward.  It is like any lesson we face; we will not remember the journey when we attain the reward.  We tell our children to eat their vegetables first so they can get a dessert.  While they are focusing on the vegetables, they are unable to understand and appreciate the reward waiting for them.  Sometimes, our children will handle the trial so poorly, they put their reward at risk.  It is important we keep in mind our reaction to the various trials we face.  Our reaction will not affect whether or not we have the trial, it can only affect whether or not we get our reward.  Just like our children’s reaction doesn’t affect whether they will have to eat the vegetables, it only affects whether they get the dessert.  Let us be mindful and focus on the reward, understanding that suffering for Christ’s sake is a badge of honor we should feel privileged to partake in.