Hey guys!
Hmmm... A few things flowed through my mind after finish reading today's devotion...

1. Always speak the truth!
Yup... We always say that, but at the same time, we are also encouraged not to be brutally honest, for the truth may "hurt, but it doesn't have to maim, kill, or destory." (Holladay, 2008)
So... what should we do?
What we're reading about today, is really related to the past few days.
Let your yes be a yes, and your no, no.
Yes, you would have to be truthful, and make sure that your truth is wrapped with love.
Speak your truth with love.(Eph 4:15)

Which really sidetracks me to another point...
Often, people like to question...
If God is so full of love, why does He send people to hell?
Why do we talk about the just of God when we are spreading the Good News? Wouldn't it turn people who have first came into touch with Christianity off?

well... wait for it...
The truth is...
Yes... The truth is...
The truth is our God is a God of Love, a God that is just, and loves us too much to see that that the unjust get what they do not deserve.

2. Be honest...
Be honest to the people you love, be honest to yourself... most of all, be honest to God!
Ps Holladay used the example of his temptations and how he was not honest with his wife about it.
I found that it was a good example.
Reminds me of the movie "Fireproof".
In the movie, the male lead also had a similar kind of problem.
As a result, it gave his wife a sense of insecurity.
Similarly, it gave the spouse some thoughts... thoughts about if there's a reason not to trust him.
Most importantly, I remembered she said this, with tears in her eyes...
"When did I stop being good enough for him?"

When we refuse to deal with a problem, and be in self denial, we alienate the people who are around us, people who care about us.
It gives them second thoughts about us, and sometimes, wonder... why can't we just face the problem!?!?

Let's continue using this example.
When we get married, we love our spouse, right?
We'll stick together through thick and thin, for better or worse...
We want to make the other person feel like they're the best person on earth, for us.
yes?

Would we want stick with someone who is not honest?
Would we want to stick with someone who we cannot trust?
Would we want to be with someone who doesn't make us feel worthy, or good enough to be with him/her?

NO!

We all have to make the decision to be honest in our relationships.
Speak the truth in love.
When we choose to be nice, instead of being honest, yes... we might be accepted, but how long would that last?

Being honest is a risky business!
Yes, we will be rejected if we're honest...
Jesus was honest, yet He was rejected as well.
However, we put ourselves in position to be accepted as well.
By being honest, we are allowing ourselves to be in a position for remarkable change.
In the long run, we will prosper! =)

3. Start today!
hmmm... You might be thinking to yourself...
But I've lied before...
Well...
Thankfully, our God is a forgiving God.
Repent, and He will forgive you.
Start to make a change today.
Repent, and start to make that positive change today!
Why wait, when you can start now?
You'll never know what will happen when you make that decision to make the world a better place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

oppss... sorry... I broke into a song... =X

so, as if I cannot urge you enough,
Make that decision today!
Wrap your truth in love.
Speak your truth in love.
Act in such a way, truth in love.

Have you chosen to act honestly today?
(Disclaimer: Please note that speaking is not just speech, but also through actions? remember how we always say, let your actions speak for themselves? =P)