02-25-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 25, 2020
Scripture: Proverbs 12:22
The LORD detests false lips; he favors those who do what is true.

Thought for the Day: On Sunday, I talked about how “this following Jesus-thing” is hard. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when it is easy, might I say simple. But there are many other days when the challenge feels a bit beyond what we might think is doable. This lying lips reference in the Proverbs makes me wonder about the little white falsehoods. You know what I’m talking about – those comments that are offered to soften the pain, to make someone feel good or to distract from a more significant issue. Have you ever stretched the truth where it no longer looked like the truth, but you had an excellent reason… one that was not selfish. I don’t know exactly what to do with this. Oh sure, we can all agree on the blatant and manipulative fabrications that are intended to injure or deceive for personal gain. Are there some that are not damaging, even protective? Or are we justifying what we should not justify? These questions may not appear all that significant, but in a world where truth-telling is becoming old fashion and outright lying is ignored, where do we draw the line? I don’t have an answer here because I will probably, on occasion, tell a little white lie to save someone’s feelings. But does my rationalization become part of the problem?

Prayer: Keep me on the path of truth-telling, O Lord God. Allow for my words to speak to the things that please your heart – love, mercy, compassion and kindness. Amen.

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