Devotion: A Bad Hair Day

A Bad Hair Day

by Marsha Iddings

Ephesians 4:14-15 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:


It's fair time. Every year when fair time rolls around, we remember and laugh about the first time we went to the fair after we moved to this area. Our son, Nathaniel, was about 4 years old at the time. We were walking from one barn to the next when a rain cloud came over and a downpour ensued. We ran for cover to the horse barn. As we stood there with a whole bunch of others who'd come in for cover, Nathaniel suddenly pointed with his middle finger (an innocent habit we'd been trying to break him of) at a couple of teenage boys whose hair had been all spiked up about two inches or better off the tops of their heads. It looked scary. But Nathaniel pointed and said, "Look Mommy! They are having a bad hair day!" I quickly tried to shush him but the boys had already heard it and were glaring first at him and then at my husband as if trying to decide which one they should beat up. They didn't beat anyone up, but they were plenty irritated. Nathaniel had spoken the truth, but maybe not in love.


God's Word tells us to "speak the truth in love". There are many false doctrines making the rounds these days as well as those who would intentionally deceive. Scripture tells us to not be carried about by every wind of doctrine, but to speak the truth in love to those who would twist and oppose the Word of God. Many times we cut people off at the knees with our Scriptural prowess and then go off bragging to our friends about how we sure put that heretic in a box. I am guilty as charged. Speaking the truth in love means you stand your ground, but it also means you maintain humility in what you have to say. You just present what the Bible says and let the Holy Spirit do the work of opening the other person's eyes to the truth. No need to get in their face, tell them they are "having a bad hair day" and cut them down with your wit and whimsy. The whole point of speaking the truth in love is so that we and the other person may grow up in Christ and not be like children anymore.


This is convicting to me. Do I always speak the truth in love? Not always. I pray God will help me to develop this grace and I pray He will help you do it too.