Control, manipulation and/or passive aggression say, “I am afraid and I can’t control. So, I am going to try to control <fill in the blank>.”
This not living by faith, but by our intelligence, experience and natural understanding based on the pattern this world, social system, family history, education and oh yes religion. None of these are necessarily truth and revelation according to hearing and hearing the word of truth. Truth sets you free and then ‘you know’. You know you are free. And you are not compelled to try to control because truth is self-sufficient and has no need to free itself. There is not liberty without truth. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” John says, “He came from the Father full of grace and truth.” Truth is real and does not go away. Jesus said, “I am the TRUE vine and you are the branches.” He is truth and our root is in Him by grace. He sets me free from trying to control myself. Huh? Yes, He sets me free from trying to control my life, body, mind and anything else attached, acquainted or affiliated. So, what now? Now, by faith, I love and am becoming love. Love is not afraid to loose control because it does not try to control. That is not its nature. That is not is motive. Love is patient. How patient? Well, the Lord is still waiting isn’t He? Moreover, He IS and in Him is patience. We wait, but He is. We also though are growing to be like Him. Love is intrinsically not manipulative. Love can be influential and inspirational which gives the recipient choice.
1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Rom. 10: 9, “That IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
IF here in Rom. 10:9 is a conditional particle. Love gives a choice because it loves!
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