Honesty Pays

I never cease to be amazed at what our grandchildren come out with. I can’t help feeling that as adults, some of us have lost something on the way and can learn from children.

One morning whilst spending last Christmas with our daughter and family, we visited a local wood. It was a favourite place of ours, ideal for burning off our granddaughters’ excess energy, plus there was also the possibility of finding some holly to supplement the Christmas decorations.

On arrival, our daughter - rather uncharacteristically - told the children they were to pick the holly secretly and not tell anyone.

We looked inside a log cabin that housed wildlife exhibits and made a beeline for a stuffed fox. One of the girls assured me that it was dead and went into a long description how it was done. Not sure I wanted to hear all that! At that moment the ranger came in and immediately the seven-year old asked, “Are we allowed to pick holly?” The ranger replied that it would be OK so long as it was only a little.

It took a little girl to remind us to tell the truth, as honesty always pays!

“Truth is truth, whether it's spoken by the lips of Jesus or Balaam's donkey.” George Macdonald

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25 New International Version

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The Sword

I love watching those very old swashbuckling movies, that always end in a sword-flashing duel. The action keeps me on the edge of my seat as the dashing hero and villain chase each other, leaping from balconies, swinging from chandeliers and crashing through windows. You wonder who will win, but always the villain finally gets his come-uppance, ending up on his knees with the hero's sword pointing at his heart. He's given the choice; death or surrender and meet the consequences.

It reminds me how it is with the Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God.

A couple of years ago my wife and I attended a retreat which involved a long tiring journey from home. I was expectant, but after a teaching session on the first morning, I felt very drowsy and snuggled down in my comfy armchair. It had been decided to slip in an extra unplanned talk before lunch.

Hoping I wouldn't be noticed, I half closed my eyes, but kept an ear cocked just in case there was something for me. The talk drifted over me until suddenly I was alert and wide awake. The speaker referred to something from scripture in a way I hadn't heard before. Startled, I asked her to repeat it and explain. Something stirred within. It felt like God's spotlight was on me and was revealing where I was not. A period of painful soul searching and repentance followed, but eventually resulted in healing and freedom and a new moving forward with God. It was exactly what I needed.

Then there have been those countless times when I've found myself in difficult or seemingly impossible circumstances. Each time I reached out to Father in my desperate need and His answer came with a Word dropped into my mind. His Word that brought light into the darkness, fresh understanding and destroyed the doubts and fears knocking at my door.

The Word of God brings truth and life into every situation. Falsehood and evil cannot stand against it. It is God's gift to us, a very powerful and life-giving weapon.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 New International Version

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