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How can I speak the truth in love and still maintain a friendship?
Let go of your anger and resentment.
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Anger itself is not a sin. Jesus got extremely upset at God's people for turning the temple into a virtual mall. And Paul, in his warning not to let anger turn into an opportunity for the devil, assumed that anger sometimes is warranted (4:26, 27). So if someone has wronged you, it's not wrong to feel angry. What you do with your anger is the issue. Either you hold on to your anger so it festers and grows (4:31), or you address the issue that caused it in a way that honors Christ (4:32).
One of the evidences of true faith is the way you handle difficult situations. Most people lack the personal integrity or courage to face challenges with honesty, humility, and truth. But Jesus has set the example through his love and sacrifice (5:1, 2). A tree can be identified by the kind of fruit it bears. What kind of fruit are you bearing by the way you handle this strain in your friendship? Perhaps God has something to teach you about his mercy toward you and his power to heal the wounds of a friend. (See also Job 42:7-9; Proverbs 27:6; James 1:5-8.)
Good Words to Remember:
"Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbors," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin." Ephesians 4:25, 26
Today's Challenge:
When a friendship is strained, how can you handle it in a Godlike way?
Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
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