True Confidence

     When you are a child you are taught that you always need to tell the truth.  Some parents even explain why.  However, it can take a long time to truly understand the value of the truth.  It is a gracious gift that strengthens bonds between people.  Think about it.  How much closer do you feel to a person that you can be your complete self with versus a person that you hold back from.
     The world tells you that small white lies or lies of omission are being kind.  That just is not true.  The truth does hurt when sin, violations of trust, or intent to hurt are involved.  Yet, it hurst so much more if you try to hide it and then it is discovered.  Those lies destroy relationships, sometimes forever.
     The Holy Spirit confirms the truth by giving your conscience confidence.  When you do the right thing, it can hurt, but you have a peace in your soul.  We all know lost people and most of us are afraid to call the truth out to them.  We don't want to hurt them or drive them away.  However, we are hurting them so much more by not giving them the truth.  God's Word will never fail.  We are the ones that fail it.
     It is important to know where you are from to understand a little about yourself and your family.  However, we all derive from God.  He made all of us who we are.  We can't depend on the human ancestry to get us to Heaven or to keep us out.  God is just and full of mercy and compassion, but He is not a push over.  We make our choices and He will make us live with the consequences.  He also makes choices for us at times.  We have to chose to live in truth and have confidence.

Romans 9:1-13