Here is this Monday’s devotional:

Words

“…We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” – Ephesians 4

I sat in stunned silence. “You are the most talented and gifted person with whom I have ever come into contact. You are also the most arrogant and prideful. And, I am worried about you, your wife and your children. If you don’t change, your path is one that leads to destruction.” Roger said.

I hated hearing these words. I hated the words because they were true, and dead on the mark. And, for a time, I rejected the words and the one who delivered them.

Fortunately for me and my family, I eventually humbled myself and received the truth and…change!

This man had proven himself to me many times before he came to me with these hard words. He had been kind and patient. He had been encouraging. And then, because he cared, he had laid it all out knowing that he would likely be rejected.

The man who came to me that day was then, and remains so today, one of the most courageous people who I have the honor of calling “friend”.

This man is one of my most treasured friends.

“Speaking the truth in love” is critical to unity. It is critical to “the team” being able to function as it’s designed to function. This amazing tool is an all-encompassing thing. We have to regularly practice “speaking the truth in love” in the easy times so that when it comes to more difficult to receive correction, truth is received.

“You are amazing.”

“You did an incredible job.”

“We are so honored to have you here.”

“I love you.”

“I need you.”

When easy to receive ‘speaking the truth in love’ has happened many times, the atmosphere is prepared to speak the more difficult corrections.

If you want a brief summary of a successful life — why you need a church, why you need a friend, why you need to be a friend — it’s these five words,

“Speak the truth in love.”

Father planned for our life with Jesus to come about through the help of others. We all have blind spots, we get duped by lies and we need friends to help us. We all need to be encouraged, we all need to see our good, and our bad, through someone else’s eyes. There’s a very personal and organic makeup in the ‘ministry of words.’

Speaking love without truth is a lie.

Speaking truth without love is brutality.

You gotta have both truth and love for this to work.

Stop

Who do you need to encourage?

Who do you need to correct?

Will you receive encouragement?

Will you receive correction?

You have been prayed for today.