FRIDAY March 6, 2020

Keeping Your Word

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus had spoken about marriage, divorce and adultery. He continued the Sermon on the Mount by teaching those gathered to Him about having integrity––keeping their word. His disciples should be consistent in keeping promises, “…let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ ”

One thing people do not like is when someone makes a promise to them and they do not keep their word. It is important to be a man and a woman of your word. Let your word be your bond––make good on what you say. Christians need to practice what they preach.

God has given us biblical principles to live by that cannot be changed. As Christ’s disciples, we must live by the Scriptures. Christians will never make an impact within their nations, homes or among their loved ones and friends, if they fail to obey God’s Word.

In fact, when nonbelievers talk about Christianity, they often complain that Christians go to church and carry Bibles, but they do not practice what they preach. Nonbelievers see contradictions in the way Christians live their lives. It is a repeated complaint, because they profess one thing and do the opposite. It is often children, wives and husbands who can point out a Christian’s inconstancies. They notice how a family member will act one way at church, and then they observe how they are a completely different person at home––sad.

Bible Christianity is what I love …a Christianity practical and pure, which teaches holiness, humility, repentance and faith in Christ and which after summing up all evangelical grace declares that the greatest of these is charity.
~Hannah More~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!