What Jesus Did! - Reliability!

Don't make a vow using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don't make a vow using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King (God). And don't even say that your own head is proof that you will keep your vow. You cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. Say only 'yes' if you mean yes, and say only 'no' if you mean no. If you must say more than 'yes' or 'no,' it is from the Evil One (the devil). - Matthew 5:35-37 (ERV)

THOUGHT:

Don't break your word! In the Kingdom Family of God, the truth is insured by our integrity, not by something artificial outside us. We shouldn't have to swear to insure our word! But Jesus carries it one step further when he tells us: Don't swear on an oath to guarantee your word. Let the truthfulness of your speech be the standard mode in which you live, not something that has to reach out and grab for reliability in something external.

PRAYER:

Almighty and dependable God, I want to be a person of integrity. I want my words to be true. I want people to be able to trust my word when I give them my word. Please give me strength and courage to not exaggerate, lie, break my word, or stretch the truth. As your child, blessed by the many promises you have kept, I want to bless others by keeping my word. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

My brothers and sisters, it is very important that you not use an oath when you make a promise. Don't use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. When you mean yes, say only "yes." When you mean no, say only "no." Do this so that you will not be judged guilty. - James 5:12

Many people call a person"friend." But it is really hard to find a person that can really be trusted. - Proverbs 20:6

No! We will speak the truth with love. We will grow to be like Christ in every way. Christ is the head {and we are the body}. - Ephesians 4:15

What Jesus Did! - Truthfulness!

"You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, 'When you make a vow (promise), don't break that promise. Keep the vows (promises) that you make to the Lord.' But I tell you, never make a vow. Don't make a vow using the name of heaven, because heaven is God's throne.
- Matthew 5:33-34 (ERV)

THOUGHT:
When we promise God something, he expects us to keep our word. It doesn't matter what the cultural view of truth and lying is, we are to be honest before God and with each other. In a way, it is ridiculous to try to live in any other way. After all, God knows our heart, our intentions, and our actions. He will hold us to our promises whether anyone else does or not! So let's make sure our word is genuine and that we don't need to pile up a bunch of other "flowery" language or culturally appropriate expletives to prop up our commitments. If we say we'll do it, then let's do it!

PRAYER:
Father in heaven, please forgive me for the times I have not kept my word. Stir in me a passion for faithfulness and trustworthiness. Make me a person who can be counted upon to follow through with what I say. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

If you make a promise to God, then keep your promise. Don't be slow to do the thing you promised. God is not happy with foolish people. Give God what you promised to give him. It is better to promise nothing than to promise something and not be able to do it. - Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

"When you make a promise to the Lord your God, don't be slow to pay all that you promised. Why? Because the Lord your God will demand that you pay it. You will sin if you don't pay the things you promised. If you don't make a promise, then you are not sinning. But you must do the things you say you will do. If you make a special promise to God, then you chose to make that promise. God did not force you to make that promise. So you must do the thing you promised! - Deuteronomy 23:21-23

The Lord hates people who tell lies. But the Lord is happy with people who tell the truth. - Proverbs 12:22