Good morning:
Always tell the truth. Not only believers, but people in general would agree it’s an important principle to live by. Being honest and forthright builds trust in relationships and prevents misunderstandings. “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful” (Prov. 12:22).
But there is more to godly truthfulness than simply saying what is true. Truth can be weaponized in order to harm, rather than help someone. It happens all the time on social media. Something embarrassing or shameful is posted about someone for all to see. When the propriety of the post is questioned, the justification is “It’s the truth!” Have you felt a secret satisfaction in hurting someone with the truth about some wrong they have done? Have you told the truth with the purpose of sparking a confrontation, rather than to help the person?
In our everyday lives the Lord does not merely say we are to speak the truth, He instructs us how to speak it. “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Eph. 4:15). As the spiritual body of Christ, we are to speak the truth as He did. Jesus didn’t hesitate to point out to a Samaritan woman the truth about her sin. Yet He didn’t do it to put her down in the eyes of others. He didn’t do it to see her suffer embarrassment. He spoke in love. He wanted to lead her to repentance and faith in Him as the Savior from sin. When He reprimanded the disciples for their lack of faith, He did it in love. He wanted them to know the truth about themselves and the truth about His love and purposes for them.
Pray today for the grace to not just speak the truth, but to speak it in love for Jesus and in love for those with whom we speak. We need to tell the truth about sin, but let’s do it in love according to Jesus’ instruction: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over” (Matt. 18:15). “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). We need to take a stand on the truth of the Word and point out false teaching. But let’s do it from a heart of love which does not want to make enemies, but rather delights in someone coming to the knowledge of the truth that we may praise the Savior together in unity of faith. May all we say and do today be done in truth and love!
In Jesus’ name,
Pastor
Services tomorrow are at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. The choir is singing in both services. Sunday school is at 9:15 a.m. and adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. The activity committee for Oct.-Dec. is asked to meet in the multi-purpose room after the first service.
