Regarding Truth
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. - Exodus 20:16
There are three things that God highly values revealed in this verse. Each value reveals something of His character.
The first is truth itself. God loves truth. His Word is truth. Truth surrounds Him and radiates from Him. Jesus declared, “I am … the Truth.” The Lord does not vary here. There is no deceit in God. He radiates and demands truth.
Second, God values a testimony or a witness. The command is illustrated by the experience of people in some sort of legal proceeding. The power of personal testimony is attested in every area of life and God will not stand for it to be corrupted by falsehood. Whether under oath or in normal conversation, we are always bearing witness
Finally, God values people and will not sanction the denigration of people by false accusations. Satan is the "accuser of the saints." Jesus is our advocate by direct and intentional contrast. The heart of God beats with love for those He has made in His image. His desire is to lift people up and not to tear them down.
We must share that heart, but we also must make another application: What sorts of testimony do our lives and worship convey concerning Jesus Christ?
Do we bear false or faithful witness in our behavior, words, and emotions?
Let us align ourselves today with the God of truth as we worship Him. Let us come with complete honesty and open expectancy into His presence and praise His Name.
