Proverbs 11:6 Honesty can keep you safe, but if you can’t be trusted, you trap yourself.
People sometimes say the opposite of what they really mean. They do this to protect themselves from their painful past experiences. They do it to protect their fragile hearts, and in some cases, their egos. For example, someone might say, “I don’t think marriage is for me.” But what this person really means is, “I don’t think anyone will ever love me.” Someone else might say, “I don’t think I can accomplish that goal.” But what this person really means is, “I think I’m a coward, I can’t do anything.” These ugly self-images are not the way God sees us. This is the way Satan sees us, and the devil has no problem shouting it out from the rooftops.
We should be saying what we really mean. Matt. 5:37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one. If I lie to you, then I am a liar. However, if I Iie to myself, then I am a fool. Honesty with ourselves is as important as honesty with God and our fellow man. Prov.11:6 Honesty can keep you safe, but if you can’t be trusted, you trap yourself.
God always says what He really means. When God says He loves you, He means it! The Lord reminds us that He is not a liar. Num. 23:19 God is not a man, that He would lie, nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? God’s word will not come back empty. His word is full of promises we can rely on. Our heavenly Father always says what He really means. Isa. 55:11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
The Lord Jesus was not bothered if He stepped on a few toes as He ministered the truth to the people. Jesus said what He meant and it was clear what was meant. Matt. 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Wow, Jesus made it clear as to what was going on. He said what was true and what was happening in plain sight.
We are being trained through the agendas of the modern thought police and have become inundated with the use of political correctness in our daily communications. More than ever, we need to say what we mean. It is refreshing to know that when God says something, it is clear and precise. We don’t have to second guess God as His word and instructions are to the point. Isa. 46:11b What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.
As I have continued to write my weekly blog, It is in my heart to write what I really mean. The message to my readers from the beginning has been a repetitive declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord, and there is no other way to our heavenly Father but through Christ. It has also been my endeavour, to be honest about my life and share my ups, downs, failures, and victories to demonstrate that my Christian walk with my Lord is a work in progress and will be that way for the rest of my life. I’m ok with that, and I mean it. Psalm 45:1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. Blessings.
Thank you Jami for your kind words. May we all say with grace what God has sown in our hearts.
Blessings Ian
This is heart talk, and I really appreciate this. Not only do we need to say what we really mean, but we need to say what God is laying on our hearts to say. Thank you for this honest sharing of your life that God has enabled in you. We all need someone who speaks truth to us in love, and you are one of those special people in my life. Blessings.
Thank You Norm for continually reminding us of the truth of God's word and how its application changes us.
Blessings Ian
AMEN!! Love it Norm!!