Speaking the Truth from Sincere Hearts

 “……speaking the truth from sincere hearts”. Psalm 15:2b NLT

“Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So, stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” Ephesians 4:24-25 NLT

            According to the ‘Bright Futures’ website; “an average person lies 1-2 times per day, 60% of people lie at least once in a thirty-minute conversation, men lie 6 times a day on average while women lie 3 times a day on average, and politicians lie on average once every 5 minutes during a debate.” (1)  There are many other key lying statistics, but you get the point. Speaking the truth is not always automatic, and most likely doesn’t always come from a sincere heart.

            The preceding statistics on truth-telling may not be surprising to some, but couple that with today’s muddy definition of ‘truth’ and one will wonder if anything they hear from anybody is absolute truth. The Bible says Satan is a liar, in fact he is the father of lies, and has been a liar from the beginning. I believe it is safe to say that when we lie, we are participating with Satan’s deceptive practices. So how can we separate ourselves from the temptation to ‘not exactly tell the truth’ in whatever the occasion or circumstance?

            David in Psalm 15, describing ethical integrity and moral responsibility said to speak the truth from a sincere heart. Paul, the apostle, said to the early Christians in Asia Minor, “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Eph. 4:24 NLT) Receiving Jesus Christ as your savior gives you a new nature, the old is gone. (2 Cor. 5:17) We also have changed hearts, perceiving the world through the eyes and mind of Christ, along with the Holy Scriptures enabling us to have love and compassion with a sincere heart. “So, stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” (Eph. 4:25 NLT) And let us always be ‘speaking the truth from sincere hearts.’

Read: Psalm 15 NLT – Psalm 15 – A psalm of David. Who may – Bible Gateway

(1) 27+ Lying Statistics: The Truth About Lying (2023) (brightfuturesny.com)