Day 290

Jeremiah 30:1-31:26; 1 Timothy 2:1-15; Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 25:18-19

True to the Word

“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
    is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
    is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.” – Proverbs 25:18-19

Proverbs 25:18 seems simple at first, but it applies to so much more. Yes, we should not speak lies, we should not spread rumors, and we should be honest, but this is about more than what we do with our tongues. We are capable of lying with our actions.

What we choose to do and say should reflect our convictions and beliefs. If we confess with our tongues the love of Jesus Christ, and our bodies and actions are unholy, then we have just lied. We are lying to ourselves, our community, and attempting to lie to our Lord. Your actions should not just speak louder than your words, but match them.

The second half of the proverb describes the harm that lies can do to people we lie about. When our preaching does not resonate with our actions we are lying about our faith, our love, and our God to the world. Nonbelievers do not ruin God’s credibility, we ourselves do.

If we truly want to announce the good news, we must not only proclaim it by mouth but live it as well. The secret to doing both is by unifying the tongue and body through the heart.

What is your heart’s foundation? Is it Jesus? Proverb 25:19 describes the flaw of relying on the unreliable. People are unreliable, but Jesus is not. He is forever loving, available, and invested. He is the only one who can give the foundation needed for our hearts. If we begin with Him, all things come together for Him.

Adeemir Dacenay