Does Your Voice Matter?

As Christians, we are called to grow in our faith and become more like Christ. But how?

According to Paul in Ephesians 4:11-16, one of the key habits is speaking the truth in love.

It's an ordinary activity: talking! But it's transformative.

Paul's sentences are like novels. You might need to take a few minutes to study what he's saying. But contrast his vision with a world that is addicted to engagement and entertainment.

We're trying to build a life that prioritizes equipping and growth. Instead of being tossed around by the waves, we want to become mature in Christ.

That means we show up with a heart to speak the truth in love. Because that's how we grow to be like Christ.

God is at work in each of us, inspiring us to do our parts.

So what does it mean to speak the truth in love? Here's a starting point: - Communicate honestly and respectfully, even in difficult situations or disagreements - Value relationships so that we can help each other understand what is true - Seek to understand others' perspectives - Admit when we are wrong - Return to the Scriptures, over and over again, to comprehend what God is teaching us through them

The act of writing or sharing your thoughts might seem like a very simple thing. But I hope that Ephesians 4 has changed your mind.

If you are speaking the truth in love—whether in person or online—you are contributing to your own spiritual growth and the growth of the Body of Christ.

As you do your part, and others do their part, the whole body develops to maturity.

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.