Rigorous Honesty

Rigorous honesty – it’s what is asked of individuals 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.  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. 

But God can be can be trusted to know completely what is right and good, what is appropriate and helpful, as well as what is harmful to avoid.  He’s more than willing to communicate all of that with us. 

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

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.

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

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. 

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.