Are You Ready for the Truth? 

We should take heed with whom we join in league and amity. Before we plant our affections, consider the persons what they are; if we see any signs of grace, then it is good; but if not there will be a rent. Throughout our whole life this ought to be our rule; we should labour in all company either to do good or receive good; and where we can neither do nor receive good we should avoid such acquaintance. Let men therefore consider and take heed how they stand in combination with any wicked persons.  Richard Sibbes

Truth is an interesting thing.  Truth means the real facts about something.  It is extremely hard to be truthful with ourselves isn’t it?  I have spent the better part of the past 10 years being truthful with myself. If we ever want to become more like Jesus, this is the most important work we will ever do.   This type of work reveals the real me.  When we get to the real us it is not always pretty.  It reveals how broken we are, but it also shows us how much we are in need of a Savior. 

The thing about truth is we also need it from other people.  Sometimes we aren’t going to be as honest with ourselves as we need to be and it is going to take someone outside of us to reveal the truth to us.  This is where it gets more complicated.  The people we surround ourselves with are going to need to love us and at the same time want what is best for us.  People like this don’t just grow on trees or show up on every corner.  I would say the majority of people we come into contact with on a daily basis are not going to be this person for us.  Why is it like that?  Because the majority are not out for your best interest; they are out for theirs.

So how do you find the person who loves you but also wants what is best for you at the same time.  It takes time and keen observation skills.  You are going to find a lot of people who have hidden agendas. 

Do the people you surround yourself with show signs of grace?  Grace in Christianity is the free and unmerited favor of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowing of blessings.  Do you see this same grace in others?  If you ever find that in another individual, treasure that person and keep them close.  This person will tell you like it is when you don’t want to hear the truth.  They will also love you in spite of your sin.  Isn’t that the very thing God does with each of us?  We haven’t earned God’s love and that is why it is called unmerited favor.

 

When you are ready for the truth, find someone who will give you unmerited favor and show you mercy in the process.  That person loves you as God does.  Truth hurts but grace heals. 

  

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I praise You for the people in my life who have spoken truth to me when I needed it most.  I ask for your blessing and favor on them because they loved me enough to tell me the truth about my brokenness, and then stuck by me and loved me in spite of it.  You love me the same way and I am forever grateful. 

     

Scripture: If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.  Ephesians 4:21-25