Speaking truth is a very interesting phrase that we hear alot today. To speak is to say something to convey information, opinion or feeling. Truth is the body of real things, events, and facts. So then to speak truth is conveying fact.
When you consider the idea of spoken truth no one ever lived who knew how to speak truth. The only one who ever did was Jesus Christ. As I read scripture recently, I have been in the New Testament and the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In their accounts, much is recorded about the subjects in which Jesus spoke the truth.
In Luke 6:31-38 we read His words as He states that we are to treat others as we would be treated.
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
Earlier today I was talking to one of our neighbors. He and I were discussing some recent storm-related damage to his home and ours. As our time together continued, I was looking for opportunities to inject the Bible and Jesus into our conversation. He opened the door when he commented that he treats people the way he wants to be treated. Of course, I jumped right in with “that is exactly what Jesus taught”. He agreed and said how important the Bible is for man. It was a good conversation and one I am sure we will continue.
Jesus continued as Luke records to teach us that-
32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, [h]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Treating people as we want to be treated is a part but then He councludes by remind us not to judge.
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Treating people the way we want to be treated is something many of us learned early in life. I know that I did because I can remember our Mom telling me that from the kitchen when I was probably about 6-7 years old. We lived in Tampa at that time on Woodrow Avenue. I can see it even now in my mind's eye. There she was standing in the kitchen and I was in the living room stupped down by an old record cabinet. That reminds me we have that old cabinet, less the radio and record player, in our house today and the original label is inside the door RCA Victor Victrola.
Treating people the way we want to be treated seems easy, but it isn’t. It does however open the door further as to how we should be acting. When you read what Jesus had to say in Matthew 7:1-6
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged."
He continues to speak on judging and the direct result of judging. He speaks also as to the judgment that is met out to a man by others and how it comes back upon the one who judges.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
There seems to have been a lot lately of people not treating people the way one would want to be treated. As well, the judging has been off the chart for a lot of folks.
As my neighbor and I were talking today, he commented that he has learned that it is important to treat people the way he wants to be treated. Then because of that, he doesn’t judge people. I said that it doesn’t mean we have the agree with someone but that we do as the Word of God says. He concurred with that wholeheartedly.
I would imagine that you are probably like my neighbor and me. As he and I concluded, we wish everyone would be that way. That treating others like we want to be treated. That not judging others so that we are not judged.
Deuteronomy is known as the "upper Desert Discourse" and is Moses' farewell message to those who he led from bondage and 40 years in the wilderness. The emphasis of the book is to the layman. The everyday man of the day and not to the priest. Moses was speaking truth to the people he had led.
In Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Moses says-
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
Moses will repeat this theme in several parts of Deuteronomy which emphasizes the importance of this truth. There are several accounts in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke that Jesus also emphasizes and focuses on this as something we are to do.
This truth is important and we look back to the Book of Deuteronomy to understand. Do you remember what you read a few moments ago from Deuteronomy? You may have simply overlooked it or maybe caught it right off the bat. It was the 6th verse you read which said-
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
Moses was making certain that they understood that the only way this was ever going to impact their lives was if it came from the heart. We know that God looks at the heart. We see the outside but God is looking inward.
In Scripture, the heart is a person’s inner moral and spiritual life. Proverbs 4:23 says-
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
This explains that everything we do flows from our hearts. The heart is the core, the inner essence of who we are and in Luke 6:45 Jesus said-
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil [i]treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Life isn't easy but then the Lord never said it would be. We all have bad days and events that occur we wish we never had to endure. Yet, when we watch across the breadth of our lives we have had many more good days than bad. If we are honest with ourselves we will have to admit those bad days were more than not, the results of our bad decisions along the way.
None of us has this all figured out. I know that I don't but I am trying to be what and who Jesus says I am to be.
In God's Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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