Do you have someone who is willing to speak truth to you? Not just any truth, truth in love. We all need someone who will speak truth in love to us. Even if it is hard to hear. Lucky for me, I have that person.
Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog, Just Breathe, where I shared my personal struggles with panic attacks and anxiety. Last week in my blog, I confessed that I sometimes embellish the truth. Although, I do struggle with anxiety, I have only had a handful of panic attacks. But I did not confess just because. I confessed because my sweet husband called me out on it. Thank you Travis Thompson for being willing to speak truth in love to me.
Why? Why do we have to confess?
Well, James 5:16 ESV says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored.”
Have you ever done this? Have you ever confessed your offenses to someone else? It is hard to admit when you mess up. It was tough for me last week to confess to you that maybe I stretch the truth from time to time. There is a humility and vulnerability that comes with confession. Scripture says there is also healing and restoration.
Here’s the thing, I wouldn’t have confessed it if my husband had not brought it to my attention.
I may not have even been aware of it. Often, it takes someone else pointing out our unhealthy, sinful behaviors for us to acknowledge the indiscretion. Confession is critical to our spiritual growth but without awareness there would have been no confession. This is why ‘WE” are so important to one another. We need each other. In fact, we really are better together.
Galatians 6:1-2 GNT says; “My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way.”
Ephesians 4:15 NLT says,“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.”
Speaking truth in love grows us, it matures us. Isn’t that what we are going for here? To be mature people in Christ. Not just babies satisfied with our own salvation. But to be living and breathing and doing just like Christ did. We all need a “Travis” in our life. Someone who will speak truth in love to us.
Who in your circle can speak truth in love to you? Who can call you out on your bad behavior and you receive it for your own growth and maturity? This is how we become who God created us to be. It is not easy work but it is well worth the effort. Every growth opportunity and every lesson learned is a step toward Christ being perfected in us.
Let us pray: Father God, teach us to speak truth in love to one another. Help us to receive that truth when it is spoken to us. And continue to mature us into the people you have called us to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. -M
Next up:
- Come see me and other authors on November 2, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the High Point Public Library for the Annual Local Authors Showcase.
- November 3, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. I will be sharing my story leading up to writing my first book, The Me Disease. Location: Bethlehem UMC in Reidsville, NC.
- The Me Disease is available on Amazon in print or digital. You can pick up your copy right here.
- If you missed my Jesus Calling blog that published in August, you can check it out here. It is called New Beginnings.
- For more upcoming events, check out My Speaking Calendar.
- Contact Me for more information about me speaking at your next event, book club, or civic group.
- Leave me a comment below because you know I love to hear from you.
