having said that…

Yesterday I replied to a mail I had received that accused me of being too harsh. My reply was also harsh.

Each night before nodding off to sleep, I spend time reading the bible, and asking what it is I need to learn from the day, or for tomorrow. Last night God’s reply was that I was excluding love from my message and that, as He is love, that meant my message excluded him, and that all the knowledge and desire to see people share my vision means nothing if I am not showing love.

The reading itself came from the NLT version:

[1 Corinthians 8 NLT]

1 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

So, to those I have offended, I apologise. I need to seek your forgiveness.

To God, I say I regret having done this, and I see I need to turn away from doing things against his will. Not being obedient is tantamount to not loving Him. The word ‘repent’ comes from the Latin poenitēre, ‘to regret’ . I will therefore be repenting