The serpent said, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

That’s my problem. It is the root of all of my sins. I think I know better. Worse…I know I’m right. Therefore, I interpret what it means to be like a prophet or like the Christ by my standards of good and evil. 

I kind of like being the prophet and talk about God’s wrath and all that jazz if you don’t come around to my way of thinking. Because, my way of thinking is God’s way of thinking. I told you I knew I was right, right?

BUT…

I should be like Jesus, and if I’m not careful, my Christ-likeness will almost always end up cleansing the temple instead of loving the weak, the least, the last, the smallest, the oppressed, the alien, or the sinner. To name a few.

I’ve discovered I can speak the truth in love either as a prophet or as one who attempts to speak for Jesus.

My prophet side speaks the truth in love like this: You’re dirty rotten sinners who have strayed from the path of righteousness: Repent or perish! I’m saying this because I love you and don’t want you to die and go to the hell you richly deserve!

My attempt to fulfill the call of Christ in my life speaks the truth in love like this: I don’t judge you because the plank in my eye is way bigger than the speck in your eye. I forgive you because I have been forgiven. I love you as I have been loved.

In other words, the way I love will speak truth about God.

So, my choice, albeit oversimplified, is whether I will be like a prophet or like the Christ?

Hopefully, I will always choose wisely.