Truth and Oneness

                My husband is a very unique man in that he has promised never to lie to me about anything and he has kept his promise. When I ask him if the clothes I am wearing look good on me, he will often tell me they do not. If I ask him, “Do I look as thin as I was when we got married?” He will answer, “No, you don’t, but you look just as beautiful to me now as you did that day.” He always tries to be gentle with the truth but he never keeps it from me. At first, I was not sure if that was a good thing, but it has done a lot to build trust in our relationship. Every compliment he gives, I know he is telling the truth even on my most insecure days.

                This morning I decided to read a passage from Ephesians. Ephesians 6 is one of my favorite chapters because it tells us to ready ourselves for the spiritual battle we are facing each day as followers of Christ, so I decided to start in chapter 4 to see what Paul had to say before this. This chapter talks about how the church should be unified in Christ. We have one purpose together and should accomplish that purpose together. Paul tells us that only together can we make a difference in the world and that we should celebrate the differences we see in each other because they are intentional. We are each given a different gift that we can use to honor God.

                I am not very involved in any church or Christian group. It is challenging to get involved with people at church because it seems like everyone is just so busy. It would be easier if I saw the people that I went to church with at my workplace every day, but even when I had a regular job, I did not make an effort to know the other Christ followers there. I know that it is not helpful to point rather or not the church as a whole is doing its job because I can only change myself, but how does one person try to reach the goals Paul was talking about in the first part of Ephesians 4? In the last part of Ephesians 4 Paul gives us a good place to start.

                Paul tells us to be truthful to one another and that if we are angry we should not. He tells us not to say anything that would tear someone else down and to put our old self behind us, to forgive others, and live as the person Christ has made us to be. Am I doing my best to be honest with others and not withhold the truth from those in my life? When I am angry, do I lose control or say things that would tear others down? Do I talk down to others or say negative things about them? Am I doing the best to forgive other people and be understating of their differences and faults? Am I living like the person that Christ has made me to be?

                Dear God, please help me to honor You in my relationships with other people. Please help me to speak the truth to others in love and to use the gifts You have given me to build others up. Amen.