Police Devotion 4-14-2016
“…speaking the truth in love,” (Ephesians 4:15)
As a cop, you see a lot of sin, but you don’t have to be a cop to know that we live in a sinful world. Sin is everywhere. In this sinful, spiritually dark world, Jesus commands us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).
When you do a traffic stop in the daytime, you may not use a flashlight, at least not at first. At night, though, you need a flashlight to see what a violator may be trying to hide—or pull out to use against you. The darker it is, the more a bright light will help. Likewise, in this sinful and spiritually dark world, God wants His people to share Christ’s love and grace, to “Let your light so shine before men,”
Did someone ever walk into a room where you were sleeping and flip on a light? The sudden flash of light was irritating, but if you had to get up, the light helped you. In the same way, people can become irritated when they hear the light of God’s Word spoken against the darkness of their sin. John 3:19 even says, “…light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Yet the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to show lost people of their need to repent of sin and receive Jesus as Saviour. When they receive Jesus, they’re glad someone shared the light of the gospel with them.
We live in a time when “…truth is fallen in the street” (Isaiah 59:14). People may not want to hear the truth because it’s “politically incorrect,” or they simply enjoy their sin, but it needs to be spoken. Not speaking the truth to someone who needs to hear it is unkind. If a man has cancer, the worst thing his doctor could do is not tell him. In the same way, the worst thing a Christian could do to needy sinners is not tell them that their sins have separated them from a holy God and has condemned them to hell. If people don’t hear the truth about their sin, they won’t hear how Jesus can save them. People need to hear the truth.
People need to hear the truth about sin: dishonesty – “Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16); alcohol – “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging” (Proverbs 20:1); pornography – “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (Psalm 101:3); profanity – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29); gambling – “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye” (Proverbs 28:22); and other sins that make people wrong with God and wreck lives. People involved in same-sex intimacy or “transgender” behavior need to hear God’s truth against their sin: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind” (Leviticus 18:22); “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment” (Deuteronomy 22:5).
Just as importantly, people need the truth spoken to them in love, not in a mean-spirited way but a kind way, to share how the Lord Jesus offers forgiveness for their sins. Mark 2:15 says, “…many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus…” Jesus was honest with these people about their sin. He told the woman living in adultery, “For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband:” (John 4:18). Yet the Lord also offered them forgiveness for their sins. Believers in Christ don’t speak of people’s sins because we hate them. We speak of people’s sins, even if we risk making them angry, because God loves them and wants them to have forgiveness of sins by receiving Jesus as Saviour.
It was said of Jesus, “This man receiveth sinners,” (Luke 15:2), and it’s still true. Jesus died for sins, was buried, rose again, and today still receives and saves sinners who come to Him today. That’s why it’s so important for us who know Him as Saviour, to be “speaking the truth in love.”
If you want to see from the Bible how to have your sins forgiven and have a home in heaven by receiving Jesus as Saviour, please click “Helpful Links” on the top menu and then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 4/14/2016
Cleveland Baptist Church | 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 | 216.671.2822