Proverbs 24:26
Often I want to "keep it real" with my friends. But when I'm honest (harsh) they would never mistake my honesty for a "kiss of friendship" (NLT). Instead, it's like a punch. So how can I be honest in such a way that it's like a kiss of friendship to the recipient? How do I "speak the truth in love"? (Eph 4:15) By pairing up my honesty with humility and true love. Truth should heal us, and we should use the truth to heal others, not to harm them. After all, Jesus said he was the Truth. (John 14:6)
