As mentors, we stand in a really significant position when it comes to being a voice in our mentees’ lives! As always, we want the Word to be the most prominent voice in their hearts and minds, but God often calls us to carry a word of truth to help shape, guide, and correct a certain way of thinking or behaving.
For some of us, that’s easy and we can’t wait for the opportunity to present itself to graciously tell some of our girls what they could change, how they could choose to act, what they could do or say differently! For others, the thought of saying anything that might hurt someone’s feelings or make the moment uncomfortable and awkward is absolutely terrifying! No doubt we will all find ourselves, most likely many times throughout this year, in a place of needing to speak truth. So how do we speak truth in a way that honors God first and our mentees’ hearts and lives as well?
Jesus has modeled for us the perfect posture of how to carry ourselves as mentors in these moments! In John 1:14 we read:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is full of Grace and Truth! When He came, Jesus presented a revolutionary idea of living not just by law/truth, but the addition of grace out of which He lived and spoke. He still brought the truth, but it was never spoken without the grace of God present with it! I love that grace leads followed by truth! That should be the pattern we follow as well! Always lead with grace, and allow truth to be spoken out of that!
Ephesians 4 is full of amazing nuggets of gold on this topic! Read through the whole chapter but here are a few that really stand out:
v2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient with one another in love.
v15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.
v29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Did you catch the promise in verse 15 connected to speaking the truth in love?
We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. And this is most definitely our heart for our girls! That their lives would more greatly reflect the heart of Jesus as they grow up into more mature believers! Indeed, speaking the truth in love and grace is necessary and something we’re called to on behalf of each other as the body of Christ! We should always be prepared to speak when called upon!
Grab hold of the promise that you have the mind of Christ, that the Holy Spirit will guide you and give you the words to speak! And as He leads, speak the truth in love out a posture full of grace!
