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Ephesians 3:1-5:14

Ephesians 4:15, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…”

Think

Do you ever avoid the truth to keep from hurting someone you love? Do you sweep the issue under the rug to skirt conflict? Do you drop subtle hints so they won’t be embarrassed? Your love is keeping you from speaking the truth.

Conversely, do you ever speak the truth without love? Your child is struggling, and you trivialize the situation by offering a generic solution without taking their feelings into account. When your co-worker is tense and fretting, you blurt out an answer that — while it may be true — is not well-received and compounds the problem.

Truth and love are not parallel streets; they are an intersection. The Bible says that excellent communication can’t happen with just one. Without truth, what we say isn’t in love. Without love, truth is not easily received. Ephesians 4:15 tells us that when we unite truth with love, we look more like Christ — our ultimate goal as believers.

Christ modeled this for us. He was truthful about our sin, but He loved us enough to offer Himself as a solution. Relational victory and maximum growth happen in the shadow of the cross — at the intersection of Truth Way and Love Street.

Pray

Dear Lord, I seek to grow more like Christ. I want to reflect His character within my relationships. Give me the courage to speak the truth in love, and the patience to understand before trying to be understood. In Jesus’ name, Amen.