Word@Work Eph48 - Ephesians 4:25
Published: Tue, 12/02/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
TRUTH - THE GOLD STANDARD CURRENCY FOR RELATIONSHIP
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. (NIV)
Long journeys start with little steps, and big companies usually have humble beginnings. The lifestyle change that is needed for new Christians to start following Jesus may seem to be huge (and it is!) but it starts with simple decisions; one by one. In putting off our corrupted old nature, one of the first things to go is lying. Jesus said that lies are the hall-mark of Satan (cf John 8:44); most of His evil work is done by inserting untruth into our minds. If we believe the lie then we will take all sorts of actions that will defame God, damage us and others ... devilishly cunning - getting us to do his work.
Some people's lying habit is so blatant that you can never trust them. Others are more subtle. But whatever has been our habit in this area, it needs to stop. While we can lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that black is white, most lying is to others. As the working environment is where we often interact with other people, it is an important test-bed of our truthfulness. This verse shows the two sides of the change: stopping the lies, and being open about the truth. Both need a mental resolution to get us going in the right direction, and an occasional personal audit to ensure that we are not slipping back. But the thoughts need to be backed by a heart conviction that it is not only the right thing to do, but we want to do it.
However, Paul suggests that the place to start to put truth at the heart of our relationships is in the church. If we belong to Christ, there is a special reason to be truthful with others in the fellowship. Church should be no place for lies, gossip or half-truths or slander ... and it is utterly shameful when it happens. So the practice of gracious truth will transform the church too! It is the only sensible way to proceed, both for Sundays and workdays. And it is the only way that is endorsed by the Lord, who will also conduct the final audit!
Prayer: Dear Lord. You are the Truth and I should want to love truth and hate lies. Help me to confirm this desire in my heart, and to implement it as I choose my words in writing and speaking. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
Long journeys start with little steps, and big companies usually have humble beginnings. The lifestyle change that is needed for new Christians to start following Jesus may seem to be huge (and it is!) but it starts with simple decisions; one by one. In putting off our corrupted old nature, one of the first things to go is lying. Jesus said that lies are the hall-mark of Satan (cf John 8:44); most of His evil work is done by inserting untruth into our minds. If we believe the lie then we will take all sorts of actions that will defame God, damage us and others ... devilishly cunning - getting us to do his work.
Some people's lying habit is so blatant that you can never trust them. Others are more subtle. But whatever has been our habit in this area, it needs to stop. While we can lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that black is white, most lying is to others. As the working environment is where we often interact with other people, it is an important test-bed of our truthfulness. This verse shows the two sides of the change: stopping the lies, and being open about the truth. Both need a mental resolution to get us going in the right direction, and an occasional personal audit to ensure that we are not slipping back. But the thoughts need to be backed by a heart conviction that it is not only the right thing to do, but we want to do it.
However, Paul suggests that the place to start to put truth at the heart of our relationships is in the church. If we belong to Christ, there is a special reason to be truthful with others in the fellowship. Church should be no place for lies, gossip or half-truths or slander ... and it is utterly shameful when it happens. So the practice of gracious truth will transform the church too! It is the only sensible way to proceed, both for Sundays and workdays. And it is the only way that is endorsed by the Lord, who will also conduct the final audit!
Prayer: Dear Lord. You are the Truth and I should want to love truth and hate lies. Help me to confirm this desire in my heart, and to implement it as I choose my words in writing and speaking. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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