Weapons for the Believer: 3 - Speak the Truth In Love

Weapons for the Believer: 3 - Speak the Truth In Love

A while back I posted a question on FaceBook regarding the weapons of warfare for the Christian. According to Paul, there are weapons of warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

I listed a few and asked for help with others. When all was said and done the list stood at ten. I’m still open to hearing more if you have other thoughts. Over the next few days we will consider the ten weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked at the first two last time.

The next weapon on the list (and these are in no particular order) has to do with our speech.

3. Speak the truth in love.

By speaking honestly we eliminate the opportunity for the devil to get into the mix. It’s only when we give a place for him that creates the need for warfare.

Ephesians 4:14-16 (ESV)

… so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Do you notice the “Rather” in the middle of these verses? The presence of this word tells us of an alternative to being “tossed to and fro” and falling victim to “craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Speaking the truth in love keeps us from these things. Like we saw with the first two, this weapon (of sorts) is designed to keep us from danger. When you live a transparent life, God’s grace empowers you live above the fray. Pastor Bobby Gourley recently stated it like this. “Transparency leads to humility and humility produces grace. Self-preservation leads to pride and pride produces God’s opposition.”

When we live a transparent life, and speak the truth, it prevents so many stumbling blocks from coming into our path. Telling the truth does not require any extra effort. As a matter of fact, it requires less effort because you don’t have to keep track of what you said and to whom! Give it a try. Not only will you feel better about yourself, but you will also thwart any attempt at the devil to interfere with your relationships with others.

Speaking truth then opens the door for the second aspect of this weapon; in love. We can speak the truth through clinched teeth, or red-faced with veins popping out of our neck. Yes, that is the truth, but certainly not being communicated in love. Unless you share the love of God along with any truth you want to communicate, all you have become is, as 1 Corinthians 13 says, “clanging brass or tinkling cymbal.” Truth can only have its full impact when delivered wrapped in the bow of God’s love.

I’m excited about this series. I hope you stay tuned as we explore the rest of these weapons of the Believer. I’d love to hear your thoughts.