July 19, 2026

Honesty isn’t always easy. The world shows us examples of rationalizing and excuse making. Our mentors, teachers and politicians give us sad examples of outright lies and manipulation. But the truth is the truth. We have a God who gave us a conscience and a faultless sense of right or wrong. So we need to stay focused on the Word and not be led into sin just because it is modeled for us by people who should know better.

It takes extreme faith to trust God enough to be totally open and vulnerable with others. But look at examples like Joyce Meyer. She is honest. Vulnerable. She reaches people in a powerful way. Other leaders can hold people to an impossible standard. In some cases, they have been exposed for covering significant sin in their own lives. Using God as a shield for greed and lies steals too many people from the Body of Christ. I would not want to answer for robbing God of His own beloveds. In spite of human untruths and sin, God waits to embrace and forgive us. All we need to show Him is a repentant heart.

Dear Lord, I struggle with all lies and hypocrisy. Before I was Saved, I played the Hypocrite card all the time as the reason I did not go to church. Hypocritical behavior can certainly cause harm to church memberships and to Christians who are sincerely trying to live righteous lives. Lord, help me remember the church is a building and people are people. Attending a church does not make a person honorable. Giving one’s heart to Jesus, trusting God and following His Word changes selfish behavior.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. John 4:23