My favorite verses in the Bible are Ephesians 4:15-16 because they are about the spiritual growth of Christians.
From the ESV, Ephesians 4:15-16 reads: “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
How do Christians grow?
By “speaking the truth in love” – in other words, Christians must first learn to think BIBLICALLY so that the words they speak are God’s truth. Then, Christians must learn how to deliver that truth of God’s Word in the powerful force of the LOVE of the Holy Spirit. When that occurs, the hearer can then receive the words as though they are from God Himself – which they are from Him WHEN it’s God’s Word and the Holy Spirit speaking through that person!
It’s brilliant. It’s brilliant because it’s from God Who is the Only Wise God – Maker of Heaven and Earth. Maker of me and you. Our Creator knows how to grow us and He calls US to “speak the truth in love” to other Christians.
I am blessed to be able to speak His truth in the love of the Holy Spirit in 2 formal capacities of ministry: (1) preaching and (2) biblical counseling. Both of these ministries provide me with opportunities to share God’s loving truth with people for the purpose of reconciling them to Christ!
-Mark (privileged to serve God by helping His children to grow spiritually and to become more like Him)
**The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.) . Good News Publishers: Wheaton.