Truth

Are you a...Most people consider themselves honest. I challenge that.
In today's world, I think it has become all too easy for us to lie.
Not necessarily lies that a jury would convict or that would cause serious harm...

just ordinary little every day lies.
We lie, hide the truth, or just exaggerate our circumstances for many reasons. Some of them sound legitimate or seem harmless:
- Not wanting to hurt someone's feelings
- To get ahead
- To be accepted by others
- To look good to our peers, spouse, boss, family
- To get a table sooner
- To avoid confrontation
- To negotiate a better deal
- To get late charges dropped
- To get something returned
- To get sympathy from others
- To keep from being embarrassed
- To cover something up that we did or said

Harmless? Hardly. These are all lies, and we all tell them.
We may try to paint them all sorts of colors, but in the end, it is still black and white.

Sounds harsh? Well, truth often is. It isn't intended to be politically correct, to be advantageous in the moment, to be soft-spoken, or even be polite.
Truth just IS.
"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." Psalms 6:16-19
Of these 7, 3 are about lying and deceit. I'd say He cares about this topic.

When we seek advantages and rewards for ourselves, we are in a sense telling God that what he has done for us isn't enough. We want more.
But, it's just our old selves talking, our sinful nature...

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. " Colossians 3:9-10

Be encouraged! Just start thinking about what you're saying and doing...catch yourself. My explanations have often turned into an exaggeration, and then I've realized...this isn't truth and isn't necessary.

I want to be able to share God's truth, but how believable will I be if I'm caught in my own lies trying to get ahead with stupid stuff that has such little meaning. God has given me all the rewards in heaven that I truly need.

"Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:12

Let's not focus on the past of what we did and said.
Just start today. You can do it, honest. : )