Sunday, February 20
But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
—Ephesians 4:15
A Turkish proverb says, “If you speak the truth, keep a foot in the stirrup.” Truth is often hard to hear. Our need to be perfect or to be above blame and our baggage from other life events often make us respond poorly when we are presented with the truth.
Those of us who don’t like confrontation or who are encouragers by nature hate to make others uncomfortable. So we often leave the truth buried, letting the truth become an elephant in the living room that all can see but that no one will mention.
Paul encourages us not to be intimidated by the truth, either when we need to speak it to others or when someone speaks it to us. If we can learn the art of speaking the truth in love, we have made strides in our own spiritual development and have given the opportunity for the recipients of that truth to grow as well.
This is a verse about growing up spiritually. But it’s hard to be a grownup. It’s easier to have a knee-jerk reaction, throw a tantrum, or run away from a conflict than it is to grow up and speak the truth without name-calling or condemnation. It’s easier to blame others for our problems and do things the way we’ve always done them than it is to be open to the truth about areas of our lives that need to change.
But Paul calls us to push through those fears to be more like Christ. Jesus did not hesitate to speak the truth, sometimes quite bluntly. And yet the purpose was always to bring people closer, never to turn them away. Some did leave. But for those willing to speak and hear truth without judgment, the love of God transformed them. They grew up in every way into Christ.
So can we.
Give me courage, Lord. Touch my lips with the truth of your love. Amen.
These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2006.
