Daily Thought for Wedneday, July 13tj

July 13, 2011

Honesty

Today’s Thought:

“Honesty is the best policy, but there are too few policyholders.” – Anonymous

Today’s Quote:

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson

Today’s Question

Have you ever stopped to consider: “Every little lie is dangerous; it deteriorates the conscience.  And the importance of conscience is eternal, like love?” – Pablo Casals

Today’s Bible Verses:            Proverbs 12:13-14 &  Philippians 4:8

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“It matters not what you do

Make a nation or a shoe;

For he who does an honest thing

In God’s pure sight is ranked a king.” – John Parnell

In a society where political correctness and situational ethics are the status quo the lines of pure truth and total honesty sometimes seem to become blurred and truth is considered no longer black or white but rather a shade of gray.

But God says let your yes be yes and your amen, amen when He clearly stated in the ten commandments; “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” – The Bible (Exodus 20:16)  And He also said in the New Testament: “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” – The Bible (Colossians 3:9)

Billy Graham has said, “Everybody has a little bit of Watergate in him.”   At some point in our lives, there is probably not one of us, who has not had something to cover up; or who has not in some way shaded or stretched the truth to some degree.  But remember there are no secrets with God and He knows all whether we want to admit it or not.

Maybe we should strive to attain George Washington’s ambition: “I hope I will posses firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”

“Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” – The Bible (2 Corinthians 13:7-8)   

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I be as honest in my dealings with others as reality requires that eventually I will have to be with you.