Love and Truth Are Not Opposites
From the series: Will He Find Faith? — Prayer in the Last Days
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In times of hostility, believers are often pressured to choose between love and truth—as if one must be sacrificed to preserve the other. Scripture never presents this as a legitimate choice. In Christ, love and truth are united.
“Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”
— Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)
Truth without love becomes harsh.
Love without truth becomes hollow.
The call of the Christian is not to balance these two, but to live them together, as Christ did.
Jesus Commanded Love Under Pressure
Jesus’ command to love enemies was not given in a peaceful context. It was given to disciples who would soon face rejection, persecution, and loss.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
This command does not deny evil.
It denies retaliation.
Loving an enemy does not mean agreeing with them, affirming wrongdoing, or abandoning truth. It means refusing to allow hatred to take root in the heart.
Love Is an Act of Obedience, Not Emotion
Biblical love is not defined by feeling, but by obedience.
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.”
— 1 John 3:16 (NKJV)
Love often involves restraint:
- restraint of anger
- restraint of bitterness
- restraint of the desire to repay wrong for wrong
Paul instructs believers:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
— Romans 12:21 (NKJV)
Overcoming evil does not require denying truth—it requires trusting God with justice.
Jesus Did Not Compromise Truth to Preserve Peace
While Jesus loved His enemies, He never softened truth to avoid conflict.
“Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?”
— John 8:46 (NKJV)
Jesus spoke plainly.
He corrected error.
He confronted hypocrisy.
Yet even in rebuke, His aim was repentance, not destruction.
This is the pattern believers are called to follow.
Loving Enemies Guards the Heart
One of the reasons Jesus commands love for enemies is not only for their sake—but for ours.
Hatred corrodes the soul.
Bitterness clouds discernment.
Resentment weakens prayer.
Scripture warns:
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you… and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
— Ephesians 4:31–32 (NKJV)
Loving enemies is a form of spiritual self-guarding.
Prayer Is Central to Loving Without Compromise
Jesus did not say, “Feel affection for your enemies.”
He said, pray for them.
Prayer:
- keeps love from growing cold
- prevents truth from turning harsh
- aligns the heart with God’s mercy
Stephen exemplified this posture even at the moment of death:
“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”
— Acts 7:60 (NKJV)
This was not weakness.
It was Christlikeness.
Trusting God With Justice
One of the greatest obstacles to loving enemies is the fear that injustice will go unanswered. Scripture addresses this directly.
“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
— Romans 12:19 (NKJV)
Loving enemies does not deny justice.
It entrusts justice to God.
This frees the believer to remain faithful, prayerful, and steady—even when wrongs persist.
A Witness That Endures
Jesus taught that love would distinguish His followers, especially under pressure.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:35 (NKJV)
And Peter instructs believers to maintain a clear conscience even when misunderstood or opposed:
“Having a good conscience, that when they defame you… those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
— 1 Peter 3:16 (NKJV)
Love anchored in truth becomes a testimony that endures beyond conflict.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach us to love as You loved. Guard our hearts from bitterness and our words from harshness. Help us to speak truth with humility, to pray for those who oppose us, and to trust You with justice. Keep our love alive, our faith steady, and our witness faithful until the end.
Amen.
Discover more from Rooted & Raised
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
