Good morning people whose motivation for speaking is love for God and love for people.

Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV 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.

Our motivation matters.

Truth is the only thing Christians should speak. You know that I am very clear on this (if you are unsure, please read yesterday’s post).

But we can speak the literal words of truth, but do so from a motivation of ‘being right’ and ‘winning an argument.’ This must never be our goal.

God loved people so much that He sent Jesus. Love is the primary identification mark of God Himself and all that is holy. And this includes us; God’s children.

So, here’s what I simply want to say today.

If our heart motivation is not love for God and love for people, we should not speak truth to people.

In the verses above, Paul could have simply written, ‘Instead, speaking the truth…’ But he intentionally and specifically included the words, ‘…in love’ to this command. It is one complete and inseparable statement.

I sense in the Spirit, that some of you reading this are immediately aware of some recent, or even upcoming conversations. You feel challenged by God that although your words were in alignment with God’s Word, your heart was not. Frustration, disappointment, and even anger clouded your vision and became your motivation for what you said.

There is no condemnation here – that’s never why God reveals something. But it is time for repentance and realignment to God’s way, and that way is, ‘speaking the truth in love.’

May all of our conversations honour God today.