No Lie

DEVOTION
GALATIONS
NO LIE
Gal 1:20
20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
NIV
Now what is wrong with telling just a little white lie? Worse yet, what is wrong with telling a big lie, if it keeps from hurting someone really badly? I am sure it is not a good thing in the sight of God to live a lie, to act and behave in public differently than who I am inside. Living a lie just does not match up with being a Christian, but what about those little white lies or bigger ones that keep peace and harmony and do not hurt others. Is the truth absolutely right all of the time? I don’t mean “the truth”, I know that is always the truth and the only truth, but the truth in conversation about things? Is it always right to tell someone something which can cause pain in their life? If the word is good for correcting, rebuking, teaching, and training in righteousness, I think than it has to be the truth spoken on all occasions, at least between believers. The issue is I have to make sure it is the word which I speak and not me being judgmental. I also have to be open to having the truth spoken to me without becoming defensive, especially if it is the truth. It is hard to hear words about how I am doing something I should not be, or I am acting in a manner I should not, maybe I would rather that person just lie and tell me how great I am. Not! As hard as it is to accept, and sometimes I do get defensive even though I know better, it is the best thing for me. And thus I believe I have that responsibility toward my fellow believer. I need to make sure what I say is the truth. I think the key here is in the talking between the two believers, surely not in the talking about a believer, even if it is the truth, and no lie. That would still be gossip. The no lie has to be in the way I live and in the conversation with another believer one on one and only than about each other, between each other, in confidence. I also think that if I had a reputation of someone who tells little white lies, than when I share the gospel, how would the unbeliever know if I were telling the truth of just spinning another tale? Simply put, no lie.