“... having your conduct honest among the Gentiles” (1 Pet 2:11)
We all have heard the saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” But how honest are we?
You open your email and find that your colleague has forgotten to sign out his email. Do your eyes eagerly move up and down over his mail or do you immediately close it? You want to ask concession from the doctor. Do you go as usual or do you remove your thick gold chain and go? Have you given your correct income in the chart? Somebody’s diary is lying open. Are you tempted to have a quick glance? I did something wrong when no one was there. The matter comes up for enquiry. Do I own my wrong? Do I give other excuses when I have actually forgotten? Cheating and dishonesty have reached epidemic proportions, not just out in the world but among Christians and believers too. Lying is not taken seriously. It is time to meditate on the words of Jesus: “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Mt 5:37).
When we manipulate words to get our own way, we go wrong. When cornered we go round and round instead of speaking the truth. When the king asked the wise woman of Tekoa, “Isn’t the hand of Job with you in all this?” she replied, “Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this” (2 Sam 14:19). She acted a drama before King David and she could have continued to act. But she was straightforward, though she knew the king could take her head off her shoulders for her collaboration with Joab.
We cheat and we are dishonest for material gain. We lie to get things done. Divorce courts are full of lies. We tell lies to escape punishment. But an honest man, God will honour. Sarah was hand in glove with Abraham in giving a picture to the Egyptians that she was Abraham’s sister (Gen 12:10-20; 20:1-17). God miraculously delivered Sarah. He could have done the same if they had been honest. When we believe in a great God we must be honest in whatever we say or do and leave the consequences in His hands. If we are not honest, that means our faith is small. Straightforward people are honoured not only by God but by people too.
“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honourably (KJV — honestly) in every way” (Heb 13:18).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
“... having your conduct honest among the Gentiles” (1 Pet 2:11)
We all have heard the saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” But how honest are we?
You open your email and find that your colleague has forgotten to sign out his email. Do your eyes eagerly move up and down over his mail or do you immediately close it? You want to ask concession from the doctor. Do you go as usual or do you remove your thick gold chain and go? Have you given your correct income in the chart? Somebody’s diary is lying open. Are you tempted to have a quick glance? I did something wrong when no one was there. The matter comes up for enquiry. Do I own my wrong? Do I give other excuses when I have actually forgotten? Cheating and dishonesty have reached epidemic proportions, not just out in the world but among Christians and believers too. Lying is not taken seriously. It is time to meditate on the words of Jesus: “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Mt 5:37).
When we manipulate words to get our own way, we go wrong. When cornered we go round and round instead of speaking the truth. When the king asked the wise woman of Tekoa, “Isn’t the hand of Job with you in all this?” she replied, “Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this” (2 Sam 14:19). She acted a drama before King David and she could have continued to act. But she was straightforward, though she knew the king could take her head off her shoulders for her collaboration with Joab.
We cheat and we are dishonest for material gain. We lie to get things done. Divorce courts are full of lies. We tell lies to escape punishment. But an honest man, God will honour. Sarah was hand in glove with Abraham in giving a picture to the Egyptians that she was Abraham’s sister (Gen 12:10-20; 20:1-17). God miraculously delivered Sarah. He could have done the same if they had been honest. When we believe in a great God we must be honest in whatever we say or do and leave the consequences in His hands. If we are not honest, that means our faith is small. Straightforward people are honoured not only by God but by people too.
“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honourably (KJV — honestly) in every way” (Heb 13:18).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
