Facing the Truth: Truth Hurts

Monday, May 6, 2019

Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org

Today's Scripture
“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Proverbs 27:6 NLT

Thoughts for Today
We have all heard the expression “the truth hurts.” Because we know that hearing the truth has the potential of pain, we tend to avoid it and live in a world of half-truths and lies. After a while, we may even begin to believe the lies.

One delusion many of us cultivate is that we are better than we really are. We begin to congratulate ourselves as being superior to others. When someone challenges our delusions by telling us the truth, we respond emotionally and become defensive.

Consider this . . . 
Would you rather receive false praise and flattery from people who don’t care about you . . . or the truth, even when that truth is painful, from people who sincerely care? People who love you. Today’s scripture points out that pain from truth sincerely expressed in love is better for us than flattery and other untruths from those who don’t care.

God loves us more than we can imagine. He lives in absolute truth without any mixture of dishonesty or deception. God’s truth is the enemy of delusion, hypocrisy, and hidden sin. God’s truth is the light that reveals our true self and the standard by which he will judge our life.

We have a choice. Are we willing to face the truth—even when it hurts? Or will we try to hide from God and from ourselves by clinging to deception?

Prayer
Father, I know there are things in my life that are wrong. Things I haven’t wanted to admit even to myself. Help me see myself as you do. Help me face the truth and deal with it. 
In Jesus’ name . . .

These thoughts were drawn from …Completely Free! A Group Study of Romans 1-8 by Dan Strickland. Everyone struggles from time-to-time, but we can have confidence that in Christ we are completely free from sin's slavery, from condemnation, and from fear of failure. This group study of Romans 1-8 and 12 helps Christians break out of the dull routine of a stagnant spiritual life. Applying the truths found in Romans can transform any believer into a person eager to follow God's will. This study can also serve as a powerful evangelistic tool by explaining the message of salvation as presented in Romans. Suggested uses include home Bible studies, cell groups, Sunday school classes, support groups and personal enrichment.

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