The Prophet and Prophetess

Mercy Aiken

Only a prophet or prophetess can honestly and unflinchingly look into the darkest ugliness and hypocrisy of the people or culture or nation he or she loves and stare it down without making excuses, denying, or blame-shifting. Most people cannot and will not look into it. They haven't the capacity. It's too painful. It's too uncomfortable. They cannot and will not go near it. And if they do, the tendency is still to whitewash or minimize it.

But a prophet or prophetess of God will not only do that, but will do it without losing his or her love for the people/culture/nation. In fact, (s)he will love them all the more, for (s)he will identify all the ugliness within himself or herself and weep over it. She or he will weep for ALL and stand in the gap of wickedness, entreating the mercy of God. He or she will see fully, but will also love fully.

There are many people who "see" prophetically but do not love prophetically. And there are those who are loyal in emotional attachment but not truthfulness.

But oh, how potent are grace and truth when they meet together within our heart. There is the double edged sword, dipped in oil, that heals as it cuts, that gives us a heart of flesh rather than stone.
And that, my dearly-loved friends, is how we are all everlastingly loved by Jesus Christ, who is THE prophet and truest, most loyal Friend to us all. Mercy Aiken