Rigorous Honesty - Praying For It

 Rigorous honesty – it’s what is asked of us in recovery programs and it is what the Bible is clearly noted for. 

We are given all sorts of stories that show people behaving well and behaving badly.  The Bible is filled with “the good, the bad, and the ugly.”  The consequences for these various behaviours are noted as well. 

God wants us to have a life that is secure, satisfying, and enjoyable.  Whatever our family, our friends, or our culture may tell us, God only can be trusted to know what is right and good and to communicate it with us. 

We have short sight and can’t see all that we need to see in order to make choices for good long lasting results on our own.  Others around us can’t see enough either, even though they might see a bit more than us. 

The evil one is doing everything he can every day of the week to lie and detour us from all the goodness God has in mind for us.  Let’s not be fooled.

God’s word reminds us:  Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible.  Ephesians 5:10-14

Lord it is so easy to just slide along on what we know or what we hear rather than going whole heartedly after the truth.  We want rigorous honesty today.  We want to know what pleases You.  We want no part in anything that is from the darkness.  We don’t want to think about, desire, or take any action that would facilitate anything other than what You have in mind for us, God.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  Ephesians 5:6-9

It’s true that we lived so often in the past fooled by the words of others and the delusions the evil one put on our minds.  We’ve listened to and followed lies that were only put in our way to harm us. 

But thankfully, that’s not the case now.  We may not be perfect human beings but we are those who are forgiven by You because of what Jesus has done for us.  We are those who are now filled with light and life because, God, You have come to live in us and to fill us with truth and light.

Thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in us to show us Your heart, to direct us in Your way, and to empower us to take each step that needs to be taken at just the right time. 

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.  Matthew 5:16

That’s what we want. We want to live today as people of light so that Your light that is in us will produce only what is good and right and true.  We want the light of our lives to give witness to Your goodness as we go about our business today.  Thank you for helping us.  Amen

Let’s live in the light.  Let’s live in God’s goodness today.  Have a great day.