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Intention

To encourage believers to obey God by telling the truth, as real love requires truth.

Scripture

“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

– Ephesians 4:15–16 (NASB)

Reflection

Your voice matters. In a culture where silence is often equated with living at peace around divisive issues, the temptation to avoid hard truths is real. Yet Paul’s words to the Ephesians remind us that the Church matures only as we “speak the truth in love.”

Truth-telling is not a suggestion. It’s the only way to really love. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:4).

We might avoid conflict by withholding truth. According to the world, withholding truth could even be seen as ‘love’. But we would be failing to love scripturally, and therefore failing to truly love at all.

To make matters worse, when we try to love people without telling them the truth, we deprive Christ’s body of the nutrients that actually lead to growth and unity. Picture the reality painted in Ephesians 4:15-16: speaking the truth in love actually helps to fit and hold the Church together.

How utterly counter-cultural this is in an age where truth-telling is labelled as divisive, even by believers! Yet our Lord, through this Scripture, gently and firmly reminds us that kindness and honesty must walk together.

Many virtues are coupled together, including truth and love in Ephesians 4:15. This is because they are not competitors. They are partners. One cannot exist without the other. Paul reveals this when he roots his command to speak the truth in love in the context of Christian maturity and unity. Silence about sin, error or the gospel actually weakens the Church. As shepherds, we must be willing to gently rebuke, correct and encourage (2 Timothy 4:2), because falsehood corrodes fellowship and leaves believers vulnerable to deception. If we truly love our people, we will “put off falsehood and speak truthfully.”

Boldness and humility also couple together. They are not mutually exclusive. Many fear that speaking truth boldly will be perceived as harsh. Yet Peter urges believers to be ready to give an answer for their hope “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Confidence in the gospel does not require bluster. It requires the conviction that God’s word is life. Paul confessed, “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16). Might we find ourselves at time acting ashamed about what God says in Scripture? About abortion? About homosexuality?

There have been moments when the Church has chosen comfort over clarity. I pray we never shrink back from proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, whether from fear of offending cultural norms or of losing influence. Likewise, I pray that we never shrink back from what Scripture says about all of the most debated issues in culture.

It is my firm conviction that proclaiming what God says about the very issues culture is grappling with, does not distract from the gospel – it magnifies it. Far from diluting the message, it reveals a fuller, richer gospel that meets people where they are and speaks directly into the questions being asked in the public square.

I recently spoke with former Archbishop Glenn Davies on the Love Questions Podcast on this very topic.

Much like Paul at Mars Hill, this is about bringing the gospel to the people, showing its relevance in the midst of their debates, and refusing to let it be confined to the ever-shrinking category that culture labels as ‘religion’.

The next generation are longing for leaders who will speak truth that anchors them in a sea of confusion. They need shepherds who will lovingly proclaim the whole counsel of God, not just the comfortable parts. They need watchmen who will warn of danger and point to hope.

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Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank you for your grace and mercy, which is new every morning. I repent for my silence where I should have spoken truth. Where I have skirted issues of sexuality, justice, greed, divorce or idolatry because they invite controversy, I confess my hesitancy.

Where the Church has fallen short of speaking truth in love, we ask your forgiveness. Refine your Church in truth and love, so that it shines your light with clarity and brightness to the world.

As the Holy Spirit emboldened the early apostles to speak despite threats, I pray you also enable me “to speak your word with great boldness” (Acts 4:29). I commit myself to trust that your grace is sufficient to forgive me and empower my fresh obedience this day.

Amen.

Author Bio

Paul Joshua ‘PJ’ Bedwell was a medical doctor. But after being born again and set free from addiction, he now heads up Youth for Christ Australia as the National Director.

PJ is also the ministry director for What’s Normal?, a ten-week video-based curriculum equipping young people to live as disciples of Jesus in a pornographic and hyper-sexualised culture.

He lives with his wife, Mikaela, and young family south of Sydney.

Prayer Points for October 2025

1. God to pour out his blessing and Spirit on every church in Australia and its leaders. Hebrews 13:7
2. All churches in Australia to grow in Christlikeness and win people to Christ. Acts 6:7
3. Widespread adoption of Reaching Australia 2033 and its plan to activate every believer in personal evangelism. Acts 1:8
4. Revival for Australia and for millions to come to Christ. Isaiah 64:1–2

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