Put Off All Dishonesty

• Share a time when you were dishonest with someone.

• How do you feel when someone is dishonest with you?

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25

In this verse from Ephesians, the apostle Paul is teaching us that we, as Christians, are to put off all dishonesty. This means all forms of dishonesty. We know better than to tell outright lies, but sometimes we allow ourselves to be dishonest in small ways. We manipulate others to get our own way. We tell “little white lies.” We exaggerate to make a story better. We cheat on our homework. Paul is telling us to cut it out! Put it off!

Paul also reminds us here that we are all members of one body—the body of Christ. What we say and do affects not only Christ himself but other members of the body of Christ. When we are dishonest, we do damage to the testimony of the church. When we are dishonest with others, we separate them from God’s truth.

God wants us to speak truthfully to our neighbors, our friends, our teachers, our bosses, and our brothers and sisters. We need to work together if we are going to accomplish God’s work here on earth.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for your truth. Please help us to put off all forms of dishonesty so that others may learn about you through us. Amen.