Jun. 24, 2007 - Seeking Him: Honesty
"Nothing is covered up that will not be reavealed, or hidden that will not be known." Luke 12:2
The past week of the Seeking Him devotional I'm working through has concentrated on Honesty. I share my notes and thoughts with you because it helps me to remember what I am learning. Writing it down helps me to organize what is going around in my head. I also want to share because I hope it will cause you to want to know more and therefore search the scriptures and grow even closer to God. I do not want to offend or hurt anyone or I would not post it on this blog. I am interested in your thoughts and comments on anything I post!
Beginning in Genesis 3, we read about Adam & Eve trying to hide their sin and we can see that Honesty does not come naturally. We don't have to LEARN to pretend or LEARN to hide our faults, we know how to do that. What we need to learn is true honesty. The book then works through a chapter on David and Psalm 32 where David records his feelings of hiding sin and then the outcome when he is truly honest and repentant about what he has done. I'm so glad God shares these things with us through the Bible so that we can see His love to all sinners. He didn't have to tell us the story of David, or David's prayers, but He did -- what an encouragement!
At the end of the Honesty chapter is a time to reflect and examine my own heart. I never tell lies so I must be honest, right? Honesty is deeper than that. If I am speaking the truth but I exaggerate certain parts then I am lying. If, in conversation, I am purposely hold back a piece of information that effects the story/outcome, then I am not being honest. If I am striving to give others a better impression of myself than is really true, I am being dishonest. If I give a compliment to someone while harboring ill feelings toward them inside, I am being dishonest. You can probably think of more examples.
The authors pose 20 soul-searching questions and the following 2, are the questions that particularly "struck me":
Do I see my sin as God sees it, or do I tend to think of it in terms of "weakness", "problems", "slip-ups" or "personality quirks"?
Do I put up walls to keep people from seeing the "real me"? Am I willing to let others into my life - to be honest about my spiritual needs and to ask for prayer?
My friend and I talked for awhile about the last question. I wondered, "Do I have to tell about all the skeletons in my closet in order to be honest?" " Do I have to confess to the public all my sins of the week so that I don't become to proud or give a false impression?". No! But there is real value in being transparent with other Christians in order to give God glory for the work He has done in our life. Sharing with someone about how God has changed us or helped us conquer a particular sin can be so helpful and encouraging to another Christian who is struggling in the same area. Perhaps telling of a sin to one, discreet, person that will pray for you or hold you accountable, would give you victory over it. "Honesty breeds honesty"... so, swallowing my pride and telling about God's power over sin in my own life could cause another sister to be honest with herself and God about the same sin that is troubling her.
And when it comes to being honest with God, well, I might as well fess up. God knows it all anyway. It is very reassuring to know that He knows all about me and He still loves me! There is nothing hidden from God so why try to hide? I can be free through His amazing grace.
"Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." Proverbs 28:13
