6 comments

Kimberly Wagner

You Can Get In My Face

Posted on 10.18.12 by Kimberly Wagner | Twitter: @KimberlyWagner7

“A man who loves you the most is the man who tells you the most truth about yourself." —Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Does anyone in your life have your permission to follow Galatians 6:1–2 when you need it? The text doesn’t read, “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual get in their face!” But I’m one who needs strong rebuke occasionally, so I’ve given a few people permission to be tough (in love) when it comes to encouraging me to godliness.

I need to be told when my tone is harsh or I’ve opened my mouth too much or I’ve been insensitive. I want to have my eyes opened to my blind spots. Oh, initially I’m repulsed by my ugliness and want to run and hide, or try to justify . . . but the love of Christ compels me to look at my ugliness head on. If I don’t see it, I can’t repent and grow. And isn’t that what we all need—spiritual growth in order to look like Christ, to be that light in the darkness that draws those who are spiritually needy and totally blind?

If we want the world to see the transforming power of the gospel, we must be willing to train ourselves for godliness (1 Tim. 4:7–8). In Ephesians 4:11–16, the apostle Paul tells us that we’re to speak the truth in love and grow up to maturity in Christ. I don’t know about you, but I tend to slip into a false comfort zone where I think I’m doing just fine. I need truth-speakers in my life that will lovingly get in my face when I’ve got my head in the sand and have totally missed a huge blind spot of needed growth.

If you love your sister, your husband, your friend, you’ll be willing to come alongside with a gentle word of truth. Because, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend . . .” (Prov. 27:6). And to ask them to do the same to you.

Have you asked someone who loves you to get in your face lately? How did it help you to grow?

 

 

Comments

  1. I will share this post to my husband as he at times says and believes that one should be more concerned with his or her sins than pointing out the others, and even when I'd ask him to show me when we were courting he would refused and say I should see for myself. That would hurt me a lot, and I feel even now that we married he isn't helping me point out my sins even when I'd ask him what's the point then of a partner being a tool used by God to sanctify.
    And I can't keep quiet like I think he is doing to my short comings, I talk and I think God is helping me cause I don't shout or whatever, I always check with him after some time if I shouted or disrespected him in any way when I talked to him. I pray before talking to him about sensitive things.

    I'm even afraid of his response when I will share with him this blog and the verses. Plz pray for me.
    posted by Mims
    on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 6:40 am
  2. We have a couple that we've asked to be our "blind spot" friends. They have permission to speak truth into our lives! It's been great!!

    Thanks for sharing Kim!
    posted by Heather Patenaude
    on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 7:33 am
  3. Thanks for getting in my face about getting someone in my face :)
    www.housewifetheologian.com
    posted by Aimee Byrd
    on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 8:33 am
  4. What a great idea! I just listened to a wondersul sermon by Matt Chandler on this passage and how important it is for community living. It really challenged me to not be a coward when someone needs restored. Also to be humble enough to accept with gratitude when someone comes to me in love when i need restored.
    posted by Amber
    on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 8:42 am
  5. My SWEET HUSBAND is the one who does this! WHO BETTER??? He is a VERY PATIENT MAN! Once, we were at a Church Christmas party & I was giving my opinion on something... When we got home my husband told me he thought I MIGHT HAVE offended a lady. I went to her & apologized! It WASN'T my intention to offend ANYONE! I'd RATHER my husband point out where I'd messed up than make a FOOL of myself! (I should say, I wouldn't have minded if he'd have corrected me right there on the spot!)

    In contrast, we have relatives who tell us they will NOT CORRECT EACH OTHER in front of others. I TRUELY doubt they correct each other in private either as they have been ASKED TO LEAVE church after church! To confront them, they'd take your head off! SOME LESSONS HAVE TO BE learned alone as SOME PEOPLE aren't receptive to being taught! HARD LESSONS to be learned by those! And their children are learning lessons that WILL HARM THEM, from them! As little eyes are watching!

    I have also been in the situation where I've apologized & the person(s) have said to me, "You're just sorry!" As I look at their lives now, I see WHY their lives are in a MESS!!!!!! We MUST ALWAYS have a RECEPTIVE HEART to being corrected & making a correction!!!!!!!
    http://tladydesigns.blogspot.com/
    posted by Becky Green
    on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 9:30 am
  6. Thanks for this great reminder Mrs. Wagner! It is easy to shy away from such *good* friends when you get close enough to get into each other's faces, but these are the most wonderful of relationships and the ones that are truly helpful as we both seek to be conformed more to the image of Christ.
    www.desiringvirtue.com
    posted by Jessalyn Hutto
    on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 10:44 am

Leave a Comment:

We love hearing from you, and will post your comment as long as it is appropriate, and is written in a tone that is encouraging, edifying, and loving to others. Even then, know that the following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Revive Our Hearts.