Speaking the truth in love

Neil MacLennan June 14, 2025 2 2

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Ephesians 4: 11-16 (NIVUK)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Earlier this week, we considered being an authentic person “through and through” so that we might exude integrity, openness and honesty in our interactions with others. Today our passage exhorts us to ‘speak the truth in love’, its unwritten subtext being the more challenging prospect of us encouraging those same attributes in the lives of others: head on!

“Aye, well, live and let live” you might mutter, as you scrabble about hunting for a log to stick in your eye, claiming “no one’s perfect, including me, so I’m saying nothing!” 

Why do we find it so hard? Because we have to take a position of judgment over the other person’s actions or activities. It’s the same with forgiveness. In forgiving someone, you implicitly are saying, “I have found you guilty”, which sounds obvious, but can be very hard to say out loud (ask me how I know!).

This is where the “in love” part needs to kick in — and being brave and bold! It is our Christian love for each other that must overcome our reluctance to speak up. We must not be afraid of damaging our relationship with that person, but instead have confidence that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts and minds of all involved. 

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1: 7)

Prayer:

Holy Spirit of God, as you weave your way through our lives: the ups and downs, the successes and failures; instil in us a sense of peace, calmness, fortitude and resolve, in appropriate measure.

Grant us a gift of discernment between right and wrong, truth and deceit, honesty and lies and then the grace to challenge ourselves and others, in love, to find the right path, and to walk in it.

Amen.