“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.” – Ephesians 4:15
To speak the truth without love can wound deeply, but love without truth lacks substance and direction. When we blend the two – truth and love – our words are seasoned with the grace and wisdom of Christ, capable of bringing conviction, healing, and growth.
I’m reminded of Daniel’s example of what it means to speak the truth in love. As an advisor to the most powerful man in Babylon, Daniel held a very privileged position. But it also carried the heavy responsibility of being truthful, even when it was hard. When Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream about a towering tree being chopped down – a prophetic warning of his impending downfall – Daniel was tasked with interpreting the dream for him. But it was not an enviable task. In fact, Daniel was very dismayed about what the dream meant.
The truth is that Daniel genuinely cared about the king. He had been a loyal servant to Nebuchadnezzar for many years; they had a good relationship. And Nebuchadnezzar respected Daniel greatly and trusted him, as evidenced by his privileged status as the king’s advisor. But Daniel had a duty to tell the king the truth about his dream. “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!” (Daniel 4:19).
Yet Daniel did not shrink back. With compassion and concern, he relayed God’s truth: King Nebuchadnezzar would be humbled for his pride, but could find restoration if he acknowledged God’s sovereignty. Daniel balanced honesty with grace, offering not just a hard truth but a path toward hope and redemption. This combined courage and love is what made his message more palatable and impactful.
Like Daniel, we are often placed in situation where we must speak difficult truths to those we care about. It might be pointing out a harmful pattern, addressing a painful mistake, or urging someone toward a necessary change. It’s tempting for us to either avoid the conversation altogether or to just blurt out our words without care, but Ephesians 4:15 reminds us that truth must be delivered in love.
May we look to Daniel’s example when we’re faced with those challenges to speak hard truths. Let us rely on God’s strength and wisdom to speak honestly, to speak with compassion, and to do so with a heart that reflects the love of Christ.
Today’s Prayer: Lord, help me to speak Your truth with grace and compassion. Give me wisdom and courage when conversations are hard, and guide my words to reflect Your love. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 