Greetings and welcome to Living Supernaturally. Thank you so much once again for giving us this opportunity to minister to you through God’s word. This week, we are talking about God’s discipline. Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 15, ‘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.’ This verse is sometimes quoted as an excuse by people who feel that they must speak the truth in love but yet at times, they miserably fail to do so in love. Instead, they bring correction through harsh ways and hurt feelings, leave gaping wounds in their relationships. Apostle Paul is not giving us a license to do that, he is encouraging Christians to speak truthfully and lovingly without intimidation or manipulation. Sometimes, speaking the truth in love involves confronting and rebuking when correction is needed. Jesus Himself said in Revelations chapter 3, verse 19, ‘those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline.’ Paul also cautioned young Timothy whom he had appointed pastor of the church at Ephesus, he said, ‘do not rebuke an older man harshly but exhort him as if he were your father.’ Paul also counsels to put off our old self which is being corrupted and deceitful, to be made new in the attitude of our minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, each one of us must put off falsehood and speak truthfully in love. We are all members of one body and as members of one body, we should not deceive one another. We cannot defraud one another through lies nor should we attempt to hide things about ourselves, rather, as those who are part of the same body and the same family, we are to be united by the same love characterized by honesty. Those who love must speak the truth, love rejoices in the truth. Dishonesty is unloving and abusive, sometimes uncomfortable words have to be spoken but they must be said in a loving way. If no one talks about the obvious problem, it remains lurking in the background, like the proverb, the elephant in the room. Such situations must be handled with love and care asking the Lord’s guidance in every step of the way. Most importantly, we are also called to love those who do not know Christ, to bring the message of the gospel to those who are around us. The best way we can show love is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to one another. What a wonderful blessing it is that you and I can speak the truth in love and honor God in each of our lives. Let us pray, Father, we thank you for your word, we thank you for what you have taught us that you empower us to speak the truth in love, bringing correction and helping us to correct people in love and I pray that each one of us will walk in this God kind of love. We commit ourselves into your hands, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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