Broken Integrity
Honesty – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Ephesians 4:20-28

Key Verse: Ephesians 4:25

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

There are several references in the New Testament that remind Christ followers to “put off” or “put to death” the old self.  In other words, before Christ we had developed patterns and habits of living.  Many of these are totally opposite of the new patterns and habits that the Bible details for our lifestyles.  After we confess our sins and by faith receive Jesus’ forgiveness, we are to take on this new way of doing life.  Most of these areas deal with integrity issues.

In today’s passage of scripture, the Apostle Paul challenges Christ followers to “put off falsehood.”  Falsehood has two faces.  The first face is a bold faced lie.  This is what we commonly think of when we say someone is a liar.  However, the second face of falsehood is lies from omissions.  These lies are often justified because we can say: I didn’t actually lie.  The problem is: you allowed a person to believe a falsehood.  The apostle wrote: put off falsehood.  These lies from omissions allow falsehood to exist by our intentional decision not to tell the whole truth in a situation.

Eventually these two faces of falsehood become obvious to those around you.  At this point your integrity is in shambles.  The Bible warns us that our sins will find us out.  We must repair this area if we are going to shine for Christ!

Father, forgive me of my lack of honesty in whatever form it may take in my life.  I am determined to live honestly in this world.  In Jesus’ name, amen.