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Before and After, Part 4: From Lying to Truth-Telling

 

Before and After, Part 4: From Lying to Truth-Telling (Ephesians 4:26) 

"Wherefore putting away lying, let every person speak truth to their neighbors: for we are members one of another."  Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭26 KSB‬‬

   In Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul shows us the incredible transformation Christ brings into our lives. He moves us from blindness to sight, from ignorance to understanding, from darkness to light, from unholiness to holiness, from unrighteousness to righteousness. Through metaphors and spiritual contrasts, Paul paints a vivid picture of our journey in Christ from lust to love, from greed to gratefulness. Then, Paul gets very specific, almost as if giving us a spiritual checklist to measure our growth in Christ. One of the clearest signs of transformation is moving from lying to truth-telling. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and when we walk in the Spirit, we are empowered to be open, honest, and transparent first with ourselves. Until you can tell yourself the truth, you cannot consistently speak truth to others.

Close-up of two people shaking hands, representing honesty and trust.

   Lying is rooted in fear, but God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us power, love, and a sound mind. Fear whispers, “If I tell the truth, I won’t be loved. I’ll be rejected. I’ll lose my job. They will leave me.” But truth always surfaces. It’s better to be the one who speaks it. Jesus declared, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” The truth sets everyone free, yourself included. The root of truth is love, and perfect love casts out all fear. The more you grow in Christ, the more fearless and truthful you become. Paul also says transformation takes us from stealing to giving: “Let the one who stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to those in need.” Growth in Christ turns selfishness into generosity. We move from tipping God to giving offerings, from offerings to tithing, from tithing to giving first fruits. We stop robbing God, ourselves, and others and start giving of our time, talents, and treasure. As Jesus promised, “Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”

   Finally, Paul reminds us that transformation moves us from wrath to resolution. Fits of rage often come from unresolved issues, things swept under the rug and left to fester. Without honest conversations and healthy confrontation, hurt builds up until it explodes. But in Christ, we learn to resolve conflicts quickly not dragging them from day to day, week to week, or year to year. We live free from the weight of unresolved anger, present in the moment, walking in peace. Our journey in Christ is a journey of constant transformation: from lying to truth-telling, from stealing to giving, from wrath to resolution. Each step draws us closer to the image of Christ and to the freedom that only He can give.

📖 Reflection: Who is the most challenging person for you to tell the truth to, and why?

💡 Action Step: Ask God for courage to speak truth in love this week, and intentionally choose honesty in a situation where fear might tempt you to hide it.

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