This week’s concept is a bit multifaceted.
So put away … all deceit … 1 Peter 2:1 ESV
Deceit isn’t “just lying.” It’s any kind of falsehood or misrepresentation of the truth.
You can tell a full-on lie or a partial lie (with some truth mixed in). You can tell part of the truth (leaving some out) or remain silent and let your spouse think what they want (and you know they will get something other than the full truth).
Spend the day thinking about the nuances of deceit and truth-telling.
I was reminded of Abraham, who told a king that his wife was his sister. Yes, she was his half-sister, but she was his wife as well. Leaving that out created quite a bit of trouble!
Then there was Abigail, who waited until her husband was sober and told him the whole truth, simply and well. A couple of lessons here – the importance of telling the whole truth and wisdom in picking the when and where of it.
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I find that Christian culture has semi-programed us to remain silent or with hold the truth or parts of truth so that we don’t trigger someone, offend someone or “bring dishonour to God.”
But scripture tells us to speak the truth in love. If we really love someone we will speak the truth in love so that they can grow and mature in Christ. True love seeks to help everyone grow to be more like Jesus…even the unsaved, as they too need to see Jesus in us and want to be saved and grow in sanctification.
Saying the hard truths in a loving tender way enables others to be adult, to learn and practice emotional maturity and to grow spiritually.
Thanks for your timely words of wisdom and for saying the hard things and challenging us all to analyze our hearts and lives, and apply God’s word!
Very well put, RoseMarie. It’s hard to speak the truth well, but the fruit is amazing.
Thank you. Yes, the fruit is amazing. When we are truthful and brave, we grow and the person we care for grows too. And God is honoured and glorified.