HOW TO BE GROWN-UP
Let us speak the truth in love; so shall we fully grow up into Christ. Eph. 4:15, N.E.B.
"Grow up, will you!" Have you ever heard these words? Have you ever spoken them? They carry a sting and are usually meant to shame the individual to whom they are addressed, for the message they bring is clear: "You are not acting your age!"
Paul, in his letter to the believers at Ephesus, talks about Christian maturity. But his words entreat and exhort; they do not harangue and humiliate. He deals strictly with reality, yet his expressions are full of grace. Even as he urges the people to "live up to your calling" (Eph. 4:1, N.E.B.), he cautions them to "speak the truth in love" (verse 15, N.E.B.).
Unfortunately, people tend to fall one way or the other: They either hold back truth in order to keep from hurting someone or they indiscreetly "tell like it is," regardless of the consequences. Much of what passes for frankness is bluntness, yet often our deference thwarts resolution and growth in our lives and in the lives of others. How can we learn to be discriminating, sensitive, and still absolutely committed to reality?
Listen: "Give up living like pagans with their good-for-nothing notions. Their wits are beclouded, they are strangers to the life that is in God....Were you not as Christians taught the truth as it is in Jesus...You must be made new in mind and spirit, and put on the new nature of God's creating, which shows itself in the just and devout life called for by the truth" (verses 18-24, N.E.B.).
"The truth" referred to here is "the life that is in God" as portrayed in Jesus. And only as we allow this truth (about God) to change our thinking and ways of relating to others will we "fully grow up into Christ" (verse 15, N.E.B.). Whatever we say, we can speak "the truth" as Christ did--we can represent God accurately.. We do not have to feel the need to avoid hard realities, because we have come to understand how God Himself deals with us. He always speaks to us forthrightly, but with compassion. He honestly addresses our condition, yet He knows what we can become.
We have a lot of living to do in this world before Christ can come to take us home. "In a word," let us "try to be like him, and live in love as Christ loved [us]" (chap. 5:1, N.E.B.).
Let us speak the truth in love; so shall we fully grow up into Christ. Eph. 4:15, N.E.B.
"Grow up, will you!" Have you ever heard these words? Have you ever spoken them? They carry a sting and are usually meant to shame the individual to whom they are addressed, for the message they bring is clear: "You are not acting your age!"
Paul, in his letter to the believers at Ephesus, talks about Christian maturity. But his words entreat and exhort; they do not harangue and humiliate. He deals strictly with reality, yet his expressions are full of grace. Even as he urges the people to "live up to your calling" (Eph. 4:1, N.E.B.), he cautions them to "speak the truth in love" (verse 15, N.E.B.).
Unfortunately, people tend to fall one way or the other: They either hold back truth in order to keep from hurting someone or they indiscreetly "tell like it is," regardless of the consequences. Much of what passes for frankness is bluntness, yet often our deference thwarts resolution and growth in our lives and in the lives of others. How can we learn to be discriminating, sensitive, and still absolutely committed to reality?
Listen: "Give up living like pagans with their good-for-nothing notions. Their wits are beclouded, they are strangers to the life that is in God....Were you not as Christians taught the truth as it is in Jesus...You must be made new in mind and spirit, and put on the new nature of God's creating, which shows itself in the just and devout life called for by the truth" (verses 18-24, N.E.B.).
"The truth" referred to here is "the life that is in God" as portrayed in Jesus. And only as we allow this truth (about God) to change our thinking and ways of relating to others will we "fully grow up into Christ" (verse 15, N.E.B.). Whatever we say, we can speak "the truth" as Christ did--we can represent God accurately.. We do not have to feel the need to avoid hard realities, because we have come to understand how God Himself deals with us. He always speaks to us forthrightly, but with compassion. He honestly addresses our condition, yet He knows what we can become.
We have a lot of living to do in this world before Christ can come to take us home. "In a word," let us "try to be like him, and live in love as Christ loved [us]" (chap. 5:1, N.E.B.).
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