The Importance of Truth

“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”” ‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭

I have at times used the truth in destructive ways. I grew up lying to get what I wanted. The truth, I found, often did not get me the results I wanted. As I surrended my life to God, the truth became more important.
However, my truth was often told without the love that should accompany it. God
wants us to be truthful, but it comes spoken in love.

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”. ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭

The truth sets us free. “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭32‬ ‭‬‬

Freedom brings us to a place of peace. Our homes are to be a place of peace. We render judgement in our gates. It should be done in truth and keep. peace. A lot of times we pace judgement in our homes but it causes strife not peace.

I have had people pass judgement on me that was not true, even in my own gates. It took me time to recover from it. Ultimately God was my defender and the truth prevailed, despite the evil in the heart of another believer towards me.

I have learned that a false oath is not only harmful to the person that it it is against but also to those who hear it, and the who speaks it. It ruins the character of the speaker. It tarnishes the reputation of the one they are speaking against, and gives a false picture to the ones hearing it.

It is also a sin against God. one of the 10 Commandments ““You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭16‬ ‭. God declared he hates these things.

Prayer – Lord, thank you for Your forgiveness and teaching me the importance of truth to You. Help me to always speak the truth in love. Forgive me for when I have not been truthful or loving. I am grateful for your grace and mercy. Forgive those who have spoken false against me. Help me to see others through your eyes, to speak truth in love at all times, and for others to give me the same grace. In Jesus name. Amen.