Walking In Truth – Part 1
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:25
Jesus said, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’ (John 8:32). But in the process, the truth can make you miserable! One author says: ‘Truth can be very uncomfortable. We have pivotal moments when we’re asked to step up and say it or act on it. In those moments…character is forged and relationships solidified. For example…I had someone share this story with me some years ago, “One summer day some of my friends and I had our kids piled into our 4x4s and were headed to a friend’s ranch for the night. Another buddy who wasn’t invited called the driver of the lead car in our caravan to see if she wanted to get together. Panicking, and fearful of hurting our friend’s feelings, she mumbled something about being busy doing something else; a lie of omission…intended to guard feelings and preserve relationships. Soon…I called the same friend to tell her a group of us were headed to the ranch and I’d see her tomorrow…Suddenly, on the phone, silence. She wasn’t so much hurt that she wasn’t invited…she was hurt that our other friend lied to her. She’d have preferred the sting of the truth…to the isolation of deception.”’
Paul says, “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." We’ve been socially conditioned to be pleasing and avoid making waves, so some of what we have to learn about truth is actually a process of unlearning.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me tell the truth, even though it may be painful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen