“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

He may be able to trust wounds from a friend, but that doesn’t mean he will necessarily like it. I’m preparing to be in a meeting with a group of people who really care about each other. For the meeting to be worthwhile and productive, there will need to be some honesty that risks hurt feelings. I’m not sure this group can do that. The most powerful input in my journey has been things I didn’t really want to hear at the moment from people I desperately wanted speaking truth into my life. When they did, it stung for a bit but produced powerful change and growth in my life and, at times, in my ministry. I suspect this is part of what Jesus talks about in the pruning illustration in John 15. God uses friendly wounds, rebukes, and input to help shave broken edges off our lives to allow His light to shine more clearly to those we encounter. Enemies’ kind words come from a place of not really caring about our growth and influence for the Kingdom. Today, speak kind words or truth—and hard ones when necessary. #BeTheEdge

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” — Jesus