Speaking the truth in love … grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ—Eph. 4: 15.
THE Truth is always to be spoken humbly and lovingly, but nevertheless fearlessly. Those who are true disciples of Jesus Christ "walk in the light, as he is in the light." "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 1:7; 2:6; Eph. 5:8).
Thus they become "established in the present truth" (2 Pet. 1:12; Col. 2:7), and enjoy the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to those who really believe on Him and hold to His Word of Truth: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31, 32).
As we study God's Word and are thus enabled more and more to renounce Satan's errors and to come into the unity of the faith, we are activated by God's holy Spirit and desire to share the beauties of God's great Plan of salvation with others. God tells us "He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully" (Jer. 23:28). The true servant of God is not at liberty to preach anything but the Truth. If he is a professed minister of the Gospel when the Truth reaches him, he is not to continue to preach error just because the congregation he is serving does not want the Truth.
Such a faithful servant of God by his uncompromising attitude most likely would lose his standing and his honor among men. But all this is not to be considered, for he would gain instead the greater favor and blessing of the Lord.
In order to be a servant pleasing to the Lord, one who can be effectively used of Him, one must speak the Truth in love. When one has just entered the family of God, less should reasonably be expected of him than after he has been for some time in the family. We as God's children are to grow in the likeness of our dear Elder Brother, our Pattern, our Head (Rom. 8:29). We are to "grow up into him in all things." We are to recognize that He is the Head of the Church, and that if we are to conform our lives to Him, we must be developed along the lines of His character and example.
People can't change the truth but the truth can change people.
