Speaking the Truth in Love

Eph. 5:14-16
    
    In Eph. 4:15, we come across the phrase “speaking the truth in love.” I think we need the pleasant reminder that Paul was talking to the church in Ephesus about correcting christians. Just because something is uncomfortable, doesn’t mean we should shy away from it. It was very difficult to correct family members, but it is necessary. How we correct, is just as important as the act. Please read 2 Tim. 3:16, Heb. 12:11, Prov. 12:1-3, James 5:19-20, Gal. 6:1, and 2 Cor. 7:6-13. We see necessary correction happen in the New Testament, but it was always from the spirit of love. If we love our brothers and sisters we will indeed warn them of false teaching or sin that will lead to certain spiritual death. The world doesn’t understand love. The world’s concept of love is, “you must accept me for exactly who I am.” God’s concept of love is to keep the commandments of Christ (John 14:15-24). When we correct someone, we need to tell them that we love them just as the Lord loves them (Heb. 12:6). We need to not hold back from speaking the truth, just as the apostles never shrank in the face of opposition (Acts 5:27-29). And we need to make sure that we are not tempted by Satan to think that we are somehow better than those who need our help (1 Peter 5:6-8). Rather, we need to be burden bearers of the weak (Gal. 6:1-2), just as Christ is our burden bearer (Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 5:6-10). Correction is hard, but it is very much worth it (Heb. 12:11), because nothing on Earth is more valuable than a soul (Matt. 16:26-27). I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley