John 8:32 — "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Proverbs 14:15 - "The simple believes anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
There is a difference between having a trusting heart and having a wise heart. God wants us to love people, but He doesn't expect us to believe everything people tell us or accept every word as truth.
We face many lies in society and some are more obvious than others.I was listening to a podcast recently that talked about lies and slander. The comment was made that compliments given via manipulation, are really lies. We need to have honest motives behind everything we do.
Proverbs 14:15 reminds us that a person without discernment can easily be misled. They hear something, accept it without question, and may never stop to consider whether it is true. But a wise person takes time to look deeper. They don't allow every voice, opinion, promise, or accusation to influence their decisions.
We live in a world where people can say almost anything. Some speak from knowledge, others from assumptions, and some speak with the intention of deceiving. Not everything that sounds convincing is true, and not everyone who speaks confidently knows what they're talking about.
This is why we need God's wisdom.
Proverbs 6:16-19: “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
Truth is a central part of the Christian faith. We are to be truth-seekers, truth-tellers, and truth believers. As Christ-followers we are called to follow Jesus who is described as the way, truth, and the life (John 14:6). Truth is central to our quest to follow and honor God.
Before accepting something as truth, take time to consider it. Does it agree with God's Word? Is there evidence to support it? Are you being given the whole truth, or only the part someone wants you to hear?
Even our feelings can mislead us when we allow them to make decisions without wisdom. That's why we need to slow down, pray, examine things carefully, and ask God for discernment.
Being wise doesn't mean becoming suspicious of everyone. It means learning to be thoughtful instead of gullible, careful instead of careless, and grounded in truth instead of easily influenced.
Remember, you don't have to accept every word someone speaks, and you don't have to follow every direction someone gives you.
God gave you a mind to use, His Word to guide you, and the Holy Spirit to help you discern.
Don't let someone else's words become your truth, without first examining them.
A trusting heart is a beautiful thing, but a discerning heart is a protected one.
Be thoughtful instead of gullible. Careful instead of careless. Above all, Grounded in Truth.
The enemy of our souls is described as the “father of lies” (John 8:44). The Devil pulls us away from Jesus by distorting our realities in order to steal, kill, and destroy our lives. When our lives are stuck in the mire of falsehoods we cannot experience all of who God is. We need the truth of the Gospel at work in our lives to live as free people. Freedom and the piercing power of God’s truth go hand in hand.
If truth is a fundamental part of who God is, it follows that lying is naturally something that He is against. God desires us to see the world clearly. He does not want us to get ensnared by wrong thinking and the brokenness that comes, when falsehoods enter relationships.
God’s Word goes even further to emphasize how lying is something that God is against. Psalm 101:7 adds, “No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.” Deceit keeps us from being a part of God’s house. Honest living is central to being part of God’s eternal family.
Colossians 3:9-10 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.
