Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:15

When I set out to work through the fourth chapter of Ephesians this week, I didn’t have the verses above in mind. Really. But there it is, lovingly speaking truth to strengthen the believer. The truth spoken in love builds us up, like nutrition and exercise help build a stronger body.

I think we sometimes miss the point of those words about speaking the truth when we ignore the main thrust of the passage as a whole. Paul discusses how those with particular spiritual gifts of preaching, teaching, and pastoring others should be reliant on the truth that equips believers. Remember, it is the Truth that sets us free, right?

We only “attain unity in the faith and of knowledge of the Son of God” when we are focused on the truth. Children grow into maturity because they are reliant and their lives are shaped by the Truth.

And then there’s love.

The person who loves someone enough to tell the truth even when it hurts, loves. The person who is unwilling to tell the truth because it is hurtful at the moment doesn’t really love at all.

Proverbs 28:23 reminds us that “whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor, rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

Let’s think about the words we say and how we say them. It’s a challenge for some of us.