Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
--Parallel verses:
Colossians 3:9-10
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
One of my favorite books regarding personal development is called The Road Less Traveled, by Scott Peck. In this book, Mr. Peck, through many examples of counseling others, encourages his readers to work through personal challenges they have in life and excel in victory. A key ingredient in this process is a ruthless pursuit of honesty. When we are honest with ourselves, we can improve how we view the world and how we treat others and ourselves.
His second book, and sequel to this one, is called People of the Lie. This is not the title I would have expected for a follow up to his first book. It is interesting that he gave the second book this title, but as I think about it, it makes sense. So much of our world is controlled by lies.
Take a look at people‘s initial belief system. They can look around them and see God‘s creation, his hand in life, his goodness and love that is persistent in life, even in the middle of adversity. And when they see these things that point to a creator, how then do they believe in “evolution” or “no God” or “a bunch of weak gods”? It is because this world has told them a lie.
When we look at the way in which people raise their kids, many in this world do not discipline their kids. Instead, they try to reason with them. The Bible is clear that if we don’t discipline our kids, we aren’t loving them. And if we want our kids to have long lives and be productive, we must discipline them. But this world tells us that’s not kind or nice. This is another lie.
When we decide to follow Jesus, we come into the family of God. And one of the foundations of God’s family is honesty. This is because we are considered one body, connected by the Spirit of God. And we fled to the truth in Jesus Christ that saved us. Dishonesty has no place in God‘s body. He is the God of Truth.
If we are to be transformed, renewed in the image of our Creator, then we must commit to honesty. Another benefit of honesty Jesus describes for us in John 8. The truth will set us free. It will set us free from the traps of sin and lying. It will set us free to have deeper relationships with each other. And it will set us free from believing the lie that sinful behavior will result in positive outcomes.
Will I embrace complete honesty in my walk with Jesus and his people? What will this cost me in the short-term? What will it get me in the long-run? Eternity!
Lord, thank you for this passage that is so clear about how important honesty is to our walk with you. Please continue to build me a heart of honesty. I commit to it, help me sustain it.