SOAP 09/29/2011; Luke 12:3

Today's reading: Zechariah 4,5,6; Luke 12

S)"³ Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops."

Luke 12:3 (NASB)

O) Wow, what a reminder. This is one of those truths that really has the ability to grant freedom, if we embrace it. This is one of those scriptures that actually tests your faith and tests how much you really believe the Bible as 100% truth. With this verse in mind, lying is completely futile. It is only a matter of time, and then every lie will be exposed. Nothing will ever be "taken to the grave" as they say.

A) Honesty is so very, very important to me - as I think about it. In practice, I'd say that I'm generally very honest. Since coming back to serve God as an adult, I've made honesty a priority in my marriage, in raising my kids, and in every other area of my life. The one place that is still hard, is in confessing sins. This is particularly true with my wife. A few years ago, we had a kind of a breakdown between us (not that our marriage was in jeopardy or anything like that), and I kind of exposed all of the last little secrets of my past. I exposed all of my present temptations. Her response was simply amazing: genuine love followed by reciprocated confession. It's still hard to confess sins that shame me, or hurt her, or both. Ultimately, I need to remember the truth of this verse, though. She will eventually know all of my faults; she deserves to hear them from me directly, and not from the rooftops.

P) Father, thank You for the changes You've put in me, God. You only discipline those You love as children, so I am eternally grateful that You're molding and shaping me. I know the end result is that I will be a better man, husband, father, and brother. Holy Spirit, strengthen me to walk in truth always, LORD, even when it hurts me in the short-term. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.