More Than Medicine
More Than Medicine
DWDP: Speaking Truth in Love - A Journey of Compassion and Balance
Discover the transformative power of speaking truth in love through a compelling personal story from my medical practice. Imagine a conversation with a pregnant woman and her mother that not only altered a life but showcased the profound impact of truth conveyed with genuine compassion. We'll journey through the teachings of Jesus, the perfect embodiment of truth and love, and explore the consequences when these elements are out of balance—truth without love can feel like condemnation, while love without truth may lead to compromise. This episode will resonate deeply, especially for parents striving to root their discipline in a foundation of love and truth.
As we move into the realm of ministry, the challenge of sharing the gospel while maintaining this delicate balance becomes evident. Relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance is essential, as we reflect on how Jesus is the true liberator. We'll delve into the importance of prayer for those who need to hear the truth, and invite you to consider who in your life might benefit from truth spoken in love. Seeking the Holy Spirit's assistance in achieving this balance is crucial. Engage further with Devotions with Dr. Papa by following, sharing, and spreading the word about our mission to speak truth in love.
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Welcome to More Than Medicine, where Jesus is more than enough for the ills that plague our culture and our country. Hosted by author and physician, Dr Robert Jackson.
Speaker 2:Papa, can you tell me a story? Do you really want me to tell you a story? Well, you go, get your brother and your sisters and I will tell you a story. Well, you go, get your brother and your sisters and I will tell you a story. Welcome to Devotions with Dr Papa. Grab your Bibles, gather around and let's look into the written word, which reveals to us the living word which is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:I want us to look at part of a scripture verse in Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 14, which says speaking the truth in love. Now I want you to remember that part of a verse, as we recall an event that happened in my medical practice many years ago Now. I was speaking at a pro-life event and after the event, a 60-year-old grandmother came to me with her 40-year-old daughter and her 16-year-old granddaughter. The grandmother looked at me and said Dr Jackson, I know you don't remember me, but I came to your medical clinic with my 20-year-old daughter many years ago and at the time she was pregnant and she was not married. We came to see you upon the advice of a friend. My daughter was pregnant, she was not married and we were seeking a referral to the abortion clinic in Greenville. Much to our surprise, you very lovingly sat us down and you told us about the stage of development of my daughter's 16-week-old infant that was in her abdomen. You described the baby's heartbeat, you described the baby's fingerprints, you described the baby's brain waves and you told us that she was much too far along to obtain an abortion at the Greenville Abortion Clinic. And then you proceeded to tell us that we would have to go to Atlanta. You then described an abortion procedure at the stage of development, where she was at between 16 and 20 weeks, and we were appalled to see and hear that description. You then very lovingly told us that her baby was fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image and that God had a plan for that little baby's life and that my daughter would make a very good mother, by God's grace. We both left in tears and by the time we got home we had changed our minds about the abortion. We both decided that we would keep the baby. About the abortion, we both decided that we would keep the baby. And here she is, my beautiful 16-year-old granddaughter. And then both she and her daughter hugged me and could not stop thanking me for speaking the truth in love.
Speaker 2:Well, you see, speaking the truth in love can have a very delicate balance, is that not true? Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and only he balances speaking truth in love perfectly. And still there were those that hated Him. Jesus always loved perfectly and he always spoke the truth honestly, even hard truth, like when he told the Pharisees that they were of their father the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Well, he didn't stop there. He went on. He said you are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears the words of God. For this reason, you do not hear them, because you are not of God. Well, jesus spoke that to them very honestly, and no doubt he did so very lovingly. But the Pharisees not only didn't believe him, they hated him. Why? Because he spoke a very hard truth, but he also loved them.
Speaker 2:Remember, in the book of Acts, much, much later, in Acts, chapter 2 and verse 3, many of these very same priests became Christians after Peter preached his Pentecost Day sermon. Now, why would they become believers? It's because they remembered the manner of Jesus Christ life and they remembered his words, the truth that he spoke and the love that he evinced. Now, what if you and I speak truth without love? Well, you know that comes across as condemnation. You've met Christians like that, haven't you? Hard-hearted, cold, insensitive, pointing a critical, condemning finger without an ounce of compassion or realizing that. But for the grace of God, there go I. You've met Christian folks just like that, speaking truth without love and coming across full of condemnation. But let me ask another question what if we have people that we know who speak truth they have a heart full of love without speaking the truth? Well, that comes across as compromise.
Speaker 2:And you and I have all seen parents, for example, that love their children but never rebuke, never rebuke the sinful behavior, never speak truth to their children about their selfishness, their prideful, arrogant, foolish behavior, until one day it is far too late and they experience a serious personal embarrassment or a downfall, all because a parent lacked balance. Loving without truth-telling. The writer of Proverbs tells us that those who fail to reprove or rebuke or discipline their children actually hate them. But those who discipline their children love them. But those who discipline their children love them. Proper discipline requires loving and speaking truth, even hard truth. Now let me ask another question. Does everyone listen to or receive truth, even if it's shared with all the love in your heart? No, of course not. With all the love in your heart. No, of course not. The scribes and Pharisees rejected Jesus and he was the epitome of love and truth. He was the personification of love and truth.
Speaker 2:Now let me give you another personal example. In my medical practice I had a young mom come to see me who was pregnant at about 12 to 14 weeks Now. She was not pregnant out of marriage. It was the product of her and her husband's relationship. She just simply did not want to be pregnant. Another time she had two children their finances were not the greatest in the world and she just told me emphatically she didn't want to be pregnant again and she wanted me to refer her to an abortion clinic in the world and she just told me emphatically she didn't want to be pregnant again and she wanted me to refer her to an abortion clinic.
Speaker 2:I warned her about the consequences of abortion. I warned her about the long-term emotional and spiritual consequences, the shame and the regret and the remorse. Nevertheless, she persisted and she went to Greenville, south Carolina, to the abortion clinic. There she had the abortion and unfortunately she had some unfortunate consequences, some prolonged bleeding and cramping, and the abortion doctor there would not help her with the consequences and she ended up back at my medical clinic and I had to help her pick up the pieces and help her with the cramping and the bleeding. But I did not reject her emotionally and I helped her with the physical consequences. I helped her with the emotional consequences and still she was my patient, still we were friends and later I had to counsel her through marital issues. Later I counseled her with her daughter's teenage rebellion years and eventually her daughter experienced an unplanned teenage pregnancy. Now get this who advised her daughter against an abortion procedure? It wasn't me. It was her own mother who spoke truth to her and told her you will forever regret the abortion and her daughter kept the baby and became a mother to her granddaughter. And still this woman is my patient, 25, maybe 30 years later, and we are good friends and we share a lot of affection. And why is it? It's because, by God's grace, I was able to balance speaking truth and love into her life.
Speaker 2:Speaking the truth in love Ephesians 4, 15. No rejection after the abortion, continuing to be her friend. And I remind you, dear listener, that abortion is not the unforgivable sin. The blood of Jesus can make the foulest clean. Who in your life needs to be loved a lot? Who in your life needs a friend that will tell them the truth with a heart full of love and then stick around to help pick up the pieces, even if they make the wrong decision or reject the truth?
Speaker 2:You know I have to speak hard truth to a lot of my patients and they know that I love them and that I want the very best for them. Yet they continue to drink alcohol and abuse drugs and fornicate. They continue to see me for illnesses related to their addictive lifestyle, even though they reject my advice. Now I don't get angry and I don't get mad and I don't reject them. I treat their medical conditions, many of which are still related to their ill-advised lifestyles, but I continue to remind them of the foolishness of their lifestyle.
Speaker 2:I share the gospel, knowing that only Jesus can set them free, and I offer to pray for them. I speak the truth in love and I pray that the Holy Spirit will enable me to balance the two perfectly. Who is in your life that needs to hear the truth spoken in love, and are you praying for Holy Spirit to enable you to balance speaking the truth in love perfectly? It is a delicate balance and only Holy Spirit can enable you and me to balance the two very well. You're listening to Devotions with Dr Papa. If you like what you hear, I pray that you will follow, like, share or download, and I pray that you would tell your friends about Devotions with Dr Papa Till next week. I pray that the Lord will bless you real good.
Speaker 1:Dr Papa, until next week. I pray that the Lord will bless you real good. Thank you for listening to this edition of More Than Medicine. For more information about the Jackson Family Ministry, dr Jackson's books, or to schedule a speaking engagement, go to their Facebook page, instagram or their webpage at jacksonfamilyministrycom. This podcast is produced by Bob Sloan Audio Production at bobsloancom.
