Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit

3 John 13-14 I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. We receive another encouragement about the advantage of expressing our love face to face. I say another, because of what we read in 2 John 12. “Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.” John loved Gaius and wished to encourage and advise him more on many things. Sometimes, love demands an in person engagement. Texting, emails, phone calls—letters are insufficient means for discussing important topics and ideas. This encourages me to examine the means of communication that I use in my relationships. We want to love others for their highest good, and so it’s probably a good idea to question ourselves as to how best to love them. Not only is the means important, but so is the timing. Jesus told His disciples once that He had more to say to them, but He knew they were not ready to receive what He had to say because of the present circumstances. John 16:12-13 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” We must be so dependent on the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, discretion, and sensitivity as we love with Jesus. Apart from Him, we may communicate at the wrong time, in the wrong way, or say the wrong things. The only way we can love well as we relate to people is to love with Jesus. That’s how I view John’s comment to Gaius. He was being led by the Spirit in love for Gaius. May we be encouraged to walk in love with sensitivity to the Holy Spirit today.