Having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor. – Ephesians 4:25
If you set about doing everything Paul tells you to do in Ephesians 4, you would not have time to do anything you shouldn’t. One of the things Paul advises is to speak truth to your neighbor. Who is your neighbor? Jesus answers that in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Your neighbor is anyone who needs you to act “neighborly.” But why is speaking the truth so important?
Have you ever caught someone in a lie? After that, it is difficult to trust that person regardless of what they say, because their word has proven unreliable. As you practice the behaviors listed in Ephesians 4, such as doing the work of the ministry, giving, or offering kindness, indulging in dishonesty, gossip, or complaining weakens the positive things you do.
Speaking truth and embracing Jesus as the truth is a basic building block of the Christian life. How important it is to be honest and walk with integrity, as someone who is reliable and can be trusted! 1 Peter 3:15 says to be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” When you share important truths with an unbeliever, the person can trust you if you have been consistently honest with them.
As you pray today, intercede for believers to receive strength from the Lord to speak the truth and to do good works that the Father may be glorified (Matthew 5:16). Ask that the truth be made clear and embraced by citizens of the United States and that deception would be unveiled. Pray that government officials would treasure the truth.
Today’s Verse: Ephesians 4:25
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Ephesians 4:25-32
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
