19/09/2020
Main Text
Ephesians 4:17-32
Watchword
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV)
To define our terms, truth is an accurate representation of the facts. Truth is conformity to God’s standards as revealed in His Word (John 17:17). God is the truth and He always speaks the truth. Falsehood or lying is any deliberate misrepresentation of the facts. Let us take just a look critically about what a lie is. In simple terms, anything that is not the full truth is a lie. Lying includes far more than telling direct falsehoods.
Lies often go undercover as silent lie where you never say yes or no to correct an assumption that is untrue because their mistaken view makes you look good, so you just let it go by and don’t say anything to correct it. One of the easiest lies to fall into is exaggeration where you stretch or embellish the story a bit, to make yourself look better or to evoke sympathy. In a similar way, we use evasive lies by changing or avoiding the subject or we don’t directly answer the question. (Proverbs 26:28).
The fundamental “truth” is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and it stands above all and we are all held accountable to this truth. It is a truth that humbles, disciplines, and severely limits our designs on power. We live in a world now where power and influence and not truth, wins the day each time. Truth is foundational to who we are as Christians. That means that truth must permeate our relationships with one another, and especially our speech with one another (Zechariah 8:16-17).
Confession
Oh Lord, keep my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking lies that I may see many good days. Amen (Psalm 34:12-13)
Prayer
Oh Lord, teach me to speak the truth always and help me to be honest at all times, this I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Additional Reading
Zephaniah 3:13
Colossians 3:9.