“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Ephesians 4:11-16
Believers are to speak the truth in love. Truth should be spoken openly, honestly and sincerely to one another with a love for souls and a desire to do them good. The manner of saying words is as important as the words. Truth and love must be preserved together. Love strengthens and intensifies the spirit of truth.
Truth and love also work together to help mature believers. Following truth in love, constantly persevering and living in truth is a means of our growing up. It is how we are to relate to one another in God’s family - in love, but never budging from truth.
Joyce
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