We started yesterday looking at Ephesians 4.20 – 32, which is a short section on how we should live. It begins with introducing a process:

• Let go of the…old self-life, corrupted by sinful and deceitful desires
• Be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you (the purpose of time with God in the Word!)
• Be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within

Then some specifics follow. I’m struck by how many of them don’t just give a negative – a “thou shalt not” – but also a positive:

• Don’t lie – speak truth (verse 25)
• Don’t steal – give (verse 28)
• Don’t be hurtful – encourage (verse 29)
• Don’t be bitter – be kind (verses 31, 32)

Today, let’s consider verse 25:

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4.25, ESV)

This is a tough one, isn’t it? We’re told not to use ugly or hurtful speech in verse 29, but in verse 25, we’re supposed to tell the truth! Some of are good at one or the other. The old Navigators were good at truth telling: “Here’s what’s wrong with you!” But they didn’t always do it in an encouraging way. But verse 25 doesn’t give us the alternative to lie to people and tell them everything is fine if it’s not. You can’t teach mathematics that way, for example.

Perhaps the key is “for we are members one of another.” If we’re members of, say, the same team or the same musical ensemble, we need to be able to tell each other the truth about how to make corrections for the good of the unit.

I’d appreciate some comments on this one! How does it work out?

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace AND truth. (John 1.14, NKJV, emphasis mine)

Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ. (Ephesians 4.15, NKJV)