Psalm 141:5
Let a righteous man strike me – that is a kindness; let him rebuke me – that is oil on my head.
This verse reminds us of the teaching of Proverbs where it says: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Proverbs 27:5-6). These words are no doubt wise, but that doesn’t mean it is easy when somebody tells us that we have gone wrong. It might prove to be soothing medicine in the end but, at the time, it can really hurt.
In Ephesians 4, Paul reflected on the fact that we all need to become more mature. He was eager that his readers shouldn’t be blown around by every wind of new teaching. He was constantly aware of the dangers that came from false teachers whose clever lies sounded like the truth. The antidote to this was for the Church to be a community within which people spoke the truth in love. That sounds so simple, but it is often very hard work and extremely demanding. Truth often has sharp edges and we are inclined to shrink from sharing it. We would rather take refuge in pleasantries and superficial talk. But if we really love one another, we will want to share that truth, and we will do it in a way that is gracious, sensitive and wise.
Speaking the truth in love will demand the best of us. It will require much prayer and careful thought, and we will never manage to do it without the power of God’s Spirit.
Question
When have you experienced the soothing medicine of other people’s strong words?
Prayer
Lord God, teach me more about what it means to speak the truth in love. Amen

Released on 17 Oct 2026