Truth and Love

Bible Reading: Proverbs 12:18-19; Ephesians 4:20-25

Chris had his flashlights ready and the sleeping bags set up before the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it, Mom!” Chris opened the door wide and grinned at his friend Miles. “Want to play a game?” Chris asked.

“Sure!” Miles hugged his mom before she left, and the boys headed off to Chris’s room.

An hour later, Chris found Mom folding laundry. “Mom, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure,” Mom said in surprise. “Is something wrong?”

“Well, a little bit ago Miles started saying some really mean things about a kid who goes to our school. I told him I didn’t want to hear them, but he told them to me anyway. Now I can’t get them out of my head!”

Mom looked in her son’s eyes. “You did the right thing by telling Miles you didn’t want to hear those things, but I’m sad he didn’t listen to you and said them anyway.”

“What should I do, Mom? I know he loves Jesus, and I still want us to be friends, but I don’t like it when he says things like that.”

“It’s not always easy to speak the truth,” Mom said thoughtfully. “I have trouble with that too sometimes. I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings or risk changing the relationship I have with a friend, so sometimes I keep quiet when I really need to speak the truth. Ephesians 4:15 says we’re supposed to ‘speak the truth in love.’ That means we need to tell others the truth in a loving way, especially other Christians who are doing something hurtful. We need to build each other up by speaking the truth of God’s Word.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’m going to go talk to Miles. I can be truthful and encourage him to say nice things about other people. I’ll ask Jesus to help me speak the truth in love.”

“I’m proud of you, Chris.” Mom smiled. “The next time I let my fear get in the way of God’s truth, you can lovingly remind me that truth and love go together…it doesn’t have to be one or the other!”

“Just like milk and cookies!” said Chris. “Speaking of which, is it snack time?” Savannah Coleman

How About You?

Do you ever find it hard to speak the truth? It’s not easy to tell someone that something they’re saying or doing is wrong, but the Bible tells us that because we belong to Jesus, we need to be truthful. When you speak the truth in a kind and loving way, you help others know the truth and love of Jesus. Trust Him to help you not be afraid to speak the truth in love.

Today’s Key Verse:
Ephesians 4:15 We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Speak the truth in love