January 12
The Truth
“Speak every man truth with his neighbour.” —Ephesians 4:25
Read Ephesians 4:17-32
When the old man is put off, our attention is directed to the lusts of our flesh. When the new man is put on, we are led by the Holy Spirit. After saying these things, Paul continues with the follow-ing words: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour” (v. 25).
If things are right, the believer’s temptation, evil lusts and lying will be subdued. Practically speaking, those things must become evident in one’s everyday life. It is remarkable that, before everything else, Paul mentions speaking the truth. Apparently that’s where everything starts to go wrong.
Just think of Genesis 3. Man’s fall began with a lie from the devil. The Lord Jesus called the devil the “father of lies.” He who tells lies, in a certain sense, is a child of the devil. Concerning God’s children, it is said, “True children will not lie.” This is taken very seriously in God’s kingdom. One ought not only to speak the truth among fellow believers, but also in the company of society in general as well. Christ called Himself “the Truth.” Let us therefore also befriend the Truth and guide our lives by this principle. That means no more telling white lies, or slandering one’s acquaintances, or gos-siping about others. To live this way, the guidance of the Holy Spirit is needed, Who will lead into all truth.
What does it mean that the Holy Spirit will guide into all truth?
This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org.