Possession 4: Honesty

Honesty interprets what I see

Adherence to the facts. 

I never thought of honesty as that.  I thought of it as simply telling the truth.  Which is true itself, but then I remembered a show I saw where a conversation went like this:

Person 1:  “Well what did you tell her?”

Person 2:  “I told her the truth.”

Person 1:  (makes a face implying disbelief)

Person 2:  “… as I see it.”

While there are things that are true and indisputable, there are also ways to present a situation in a way that benefits the person saying it.  There is a bias that exists.  But honesty adheres to the facts.  Without honesty, without this adherence to the facts, judgment is clouded.  Honesty, true honesty, not only removes the clouds but it allows the actions or the situations to be evaluated and discerned separate from those who might be involved.  Think about it, “whatsoever things are honest,” we are to think on.  As troubling as these facts might be, without understanding them completely, without having a full adherence and true perspective of them, we cannot judge them correctly or act accordingly. 

Honesty allows for deeper questioning, deeper understanding.  It drives toward the motives.  If we are honest with ourselves, we stick to the facts about our own actions and our own feelings.  We ask the question, could I have done this differently?  Was I at fault?  Am I blaming someone for this that I shouldn’t be?   Am I doing this thing that I don’t want to?

We cannot confess without honesty.  Confession is necessary for forgiveness.  If we are not honest about a sin or transgression when we go to Christ, then how can we accept forgiveness for that sin?  Confession is the unloading of the burden of sin from our own shoulders and placing it on the ones of Him who gave Himself for us.  How can we follow, how can we keep up with Him if we are carrying that which He requires us to release?

         

Jesus was always honest.  At times His honesty offended others.  They would turn and walk away, or plot to kill Him.  But He stuck to the facts.  And we are called to do the same.  We are called to be honest.

Lord,

Impress upon our hearts the truth of Who You are and what You have done.  Let us not cast off these but adhere to them at all times being always ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us.  Help us to be honest.  Help us to be faithful as we follow You.

Amen.

SDG