Greatness: Matthew 14-20ਨਮੂਨਾ

When was the last time someone lovingly challenged your actions, words, or attitudes? When was the last time someone cared enough to look you in the eye and tell you the truth, not to tear you down, but to help you grow? Maybe that moment was uncomfortable, felt like judgment, or the words were true, but they hit a raw nerve. Maybe you got defensive.

I know the feeling. When my motives are questioned or my blind spots are exposed, it can feel like someone’s pulled back the curtain on parts of me I’d rather keep hidden. I can feel small, ashamed, even angry. I tell myself I’m misunderstood. I rehearse my justifications. And I miss the invitation.

Truth, spoken in love, is always an invitation, not a condemnation. An invitation to come closer to Jesus, to be shaped by grace, and to let go of what’s false and receive a gift—the gift of His truth.

If you’ve experienced manipulation or spiritual abuse, that kind of invitation can feel threatening. When people use the name of Jesus to exert control, it is not truth in love—it’s a distortion of the gospel. If you’ve been wounded in that way, please hear this clearly: God does not coerce. He always leads with kindness.

The difference between spiritual abuse and godly correction can be subtle, so it’s essential to seek out wise, Spirit-filled voices—plural. God has placed us in community for protection and discernment, not coercion and control.

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16, ESV)

God didn’t design us to grow in isolation, and I truly believe He does His best work in us through relationships. If it’s hard to recall a time when someone last spoke truth to you in love, you may be missing out on one of the most beautiful gifts of life in the body of Christ.

Today, ponder this: Is there a godly, trusted person in your life who you could invite to speak the truth to you in love? You might say something like:

“You are a trusted person in my life. I know I have blind spots—and I want to grow. Would you be willing to speak into my life when you see something off? I want to see how God is at work in me, and also where He might be calling me to change.”