Words of truth spoken in love can guide us all toward maturity in Christ.

用爱心说的诚实话，能帮助我们在基督里迈向成熟。

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. Ephesians 4:15

惟用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。-以弗所书4章15节

On her first day in preschool, young Charlotte was asked to draw a picture of herself. Her artwork featured a simple orb for a body, an oblong head, and two circle eyes. On her last day of preschool, Charlotte was again directed to draw a self-portrait. This one showed a little girl in a colorful dress, a smiling face with distinct features, and a cascade of beautiful red tresses. The school had used a simple assignment to demonstrate the difference that time can make in the level of maturity.

在小乐乐第一天上幼稚园时，老师要她画一张自画像。她画了一个圆形代表身体，上面连接一个长方形的头，还有两个较小的圆圈是眼睛。到了她在幼稚园的最后一天，老师又要乐乐再画一次自画像。这次她画了一个小女孩，穿着五颜六色的裙子，脸上带着笑容，五官也很清晰，还有一串美丽的红色发辫。学校用这个简单的作业，来显示时间能让孩子逐渐成熟。

While we accept that it takes time for children to mature, we may grow impatient with ourselves or fellow believers who show slow spiritual growth. We rejoice when we see the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–23), but are disheartened when we observe a sinful choice. The author of Hebrews spoke of this when he wrote to the church: “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again” (Heb. 5:12).

我们都认同孩子需要花时间成长，但是我们对自己或其他信徒在灵命上的缓慢成长，却可能会逐渐失去耐心。当我们看见“圣灵的果子”（加拉太书5章22-23节） 时，心中会充满欢欣，然而看到人犯了罪难免会感到沮丧。希伯来书的作者也提到这一点，当他写信给教会时说：“到这个时候，你们应该已经作老师了；可是你们还需要有人再把上帝道理的初步教导你们。”（希伯来书5章12节，新译本）

As we continue to pursue intimacy with Jesus ourselves, let’s pray for each other and patiently come alongside those who love God but who seem to struggle with spiritual growth. “Speaking the truth in love,” let’s continue to encourage one another, so that together we may “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Eph. 4:15).

当我们不断地追求与耶稣更加亲密时，让我们也彼此代祷，并陪伴那些爱上帝、却好似在灵命成长上停滞不前的人。让我们继续彼此劝勉，“惟用爱心说诚实话”，好让我们可以一同“凡事长进，连于元首基督”（以弗所书4章15节）。

Lord, we love You! In our walk with You, help us to receive and give encouragement.

主，我们爱祢！在我们与祢同行的路上，
求祢帮助我们能接受劝勉，也能鼓励他人。

Ephesians 4:11-16New International Version (NIV)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 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. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

以弗所书 4:11-16Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

满有基督长成的身量

11 他所赐的有使徒，有先知，有传福音的，有牧师和教师， 12 为要成全圣徒，各尽其职，建立基督的身体， 13 直等到我们众人在真道上同归于一，认识神的儿子，得以长大成人，满有基督长成的身量， 14 使我们不再做小孩子，中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术，被一切异教之风摇动飘来飘去，就随从各样的异端， 15 唯用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。 16 全身都靠他联络得合式，百节各按各职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，便叫身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。

整理：于姊妹