“惟用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。” – 弗 4:15
在我所工作的校园里，有一个总是面带微笑、说话温柔可亲的学生，他为我们的校园增色不少。箴言16:24所说的，好像是以他为典范的呢！几句说得合宜的话比蜜更甘甜，反之，轻率和不合宜的话却能伤害和甚至破坏彼此的关系。
圣灵吩咐我们，要用爱心说诚实话。但并非每一件真实的事都要说出来的，我们准备开口说话时，如果不是出于爱心的话，最好还是保持缄默。说话的方式有正确和错误的区分，说话和沉默也各有它们合宜的时间。
说了不合宜的话，我们很容易便会找借口来解释。我们时常认为：“我只是一个率直的人，”或“这是我的个性，”或说“我不过是把我看见的说出来而已。”
然而，每一个神的儿女都可以期待做得更好。在以弗所书4章，保罗给我们一些建议，能帮助我们弃绝谎言、说实话、不说污秽的言语、叫听见的人得益处。当我们与圣灵同行时，我们便被改变了。藉着圣灵的帮助，无论在家中、在工作场所、或在我们的教会、或在世界上，我们都有能力去改变我们说话的方式。
祷告
父啊，求你帮助我们选择合宜的话，来建立别人的信心，而不是伤害和诋毁他们。惟愿我们的说话方式，也能吸引那些尚未认识你的人来到你那里。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
以弗所书 4:15-16, 20-32
15唯用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。
16全身都靠他联络得合式，百节各按各职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，便叫身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。
20你们学了基督，却不是这样。
21如果你们听过他的道，领了他的教，学了他的真理，
22就要脱去你们从前行为上的旧人，这旧人是因私欲的迷惑渐渐变坏的；
23又要将你们的心志改换一新，
24并且穿上新人，这新人是照着神的形象造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。
25所以你们要弃绝谎言，各人与邻舍说实话，因为我们是互相为肢体。
26生气却不要犯罪，不可含怒到日落，
27也不可给魔鬼留地步。
28从前偷窃的，不要再偷，总要劳力，亲手做正经事，就可有余，分给那缺少的人。
29污秽的言语一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。
30不要叫神的圣灵担忧，你们原是受了他的印记，等候得赎的日子来到。
31一切苦毒、恼恨、愤怒、嚷闹、毁谤，并一切的恶毒，都当从你们中间除掉；
32并要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。
Speak The Truth In Love
“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
A student who graces the college campus where I work always has a smile on his face and speaks with words that are kind and gentle. Proverbs 16:24 could have been inspired with him in mind! While a few well-chosen words are sweeter than honey, rash and poorly chosen words can damage and even destroy relationships.
The Holy Spirit calls us to speak the truth in love. Not everything that is true needs to be said, and when love is not the motive for what we are prepared to say, we would do well simply to remain silent. There is a right way and a wrong way to say things, and there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.
It is easy for us to make excuses for our poorly chosen words. We often think and say things like “I’m just a blunt person,” or, “That’s my nature,” or, “I just say it the way I see it.”
However, there is hope for all of God’s children. In Ephesians 4, Paul gives helpful advice about putting off falsehood and speaking truthfully, avoiding unwholesome talk, and building others up. When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we are changed. With the Spirit’s help we can change the way we speak in our homes and workplaces, in our churches, and in the world.
Prayer
Father, help us to choose our words well, building others up in faith rather than hurting and tearing down. May our words be attractive to all who don’t yet know you as well. In Jesus, Amen.
