Lifting five words from Ephesians 4:15, “speaking the truth in love.” What we speak and how we speak it have a tremendous impact on those to whom we speak. Our words according to the apostle should have two elements, truth and love. First we must establish what truth is; in general it is anything that is not false, in specific it is anything that aligns itself with God’s word, so our speech must be in alignment with His word, “Your word is truth” John 17:17. Jesus, the “word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14, said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” John 14:6. So we speak what He speaks, we say what God says. God told Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth” Joshua 1:8. In other words “keep speaking it, don’t let it get out of your thoughts or sight”. We must never deviate from what God says! When our speech is in alignment with God’s word and spoken in faith it becomes like fertilizer to produce fruit, as Romans 10:17 says, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” But when speaking to others the Apostle goes on to say the truth must be spoken in love! When we approach people with a judgmental, harsh, cruel, or “holier than thou” attitude it will likely turn them away rather than draw them in! Though the truth is often hard, the message and the messenger must be tempered with love, yet never compromised. Take a lesson from Jesus who did not come “into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” John 3:17. Yes, Judgment is coming, but let that to God; today our job is to speak the message of truth in love!
Growing In Love And Truth
By Rose Hill (from Ephesians 4:14-15)
Lord, help me always truth to express.
And Your love growing in me to bless.
Help me in all ways Your truth to know,
That I may teach others how to grow.
In the body of Christ my part to do,
And to show how much I really love You.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 19082 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.