HONESTY

 

Write From My Heart

May 3, 2021

 

HONESTY genuine, sincere; being what it is said to be; without pretending

 

Isaiah 59:14-15 (NIV) So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

 

Ponder this: When a person pretends to be something they are not, honesty is not present. Your persona—the person whom people believe you to be—may fool the world, but God looks at your heart, (1Samuel 16:7). Is it sincere? Is it genuine?

TRUTH

 

Write From My Heart

May 2, 2021

 

TRUTH reliable, certain; NOT deceiving or misleading

 

Isaiah 59:14-15 (NIV) So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

 

Ponder this: Do you focus on those things which are reliable and certain? This is not as easy as it may seem to be for we are inundated (i.e., saturated) with ideas and concepts full of deception and misleading information. Think about it—every commercial you see or hear wants to entice you to buy their product often by using misleading or deceiving word choice. Sometimes,  the words may be accurate while the visual picture in the background has been artificially created. Generally, what you see is not what you get. Unfortunately, the same can now be said of news reports and media, even social media. As a Christian, it is our responsibility and duty to seek truth—those things that are reliable, those things that are certain. This requires effort. Are you willing to seek truth?

RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

Write From My Heart

May 1, 2021

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS moral excellence; capable of distinguishing between right and wrong

 

Isaiah 59:14-15 (NIV) So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

 

Ponder this: Our world has blurred the lines between what is right and what is wrong for many years. Today, profanity and foul language have become so commonplace we cease to recognize it. In addition, I remember as a child frequently hearing popular phrases such as, “Do your own thing,” and “Have it your way.” In today’s society it is no longer acceptable to refer to something as black or white because that might be offensive in some way, and so we opt out for shades of gray. Blur the lines. Stay in the middle. Guess what? There is a RIGHT! There is a WRONG! Are you able to recognize the difference? And if so, how will you respond?