Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – Telling the Truth, in Love
Opening
- Today, we learned about being trustworthy, now let's see what the Bible says about that characteristic.
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head — Christ.
Devotional
Big picture We need to tell the truth, but do so in a loving way
- We learned to today about the importance of telling the truth. And we all know telling the truth is what God wants, but why does He want us to tell the truth?
- God says that He not only tells the truth, but that He IS TRUTH. He cannot tell a lie. If He lied, He would not be God. All truth is God and God is all truth. God and Truth cannot be separated.
- So, we ask again, why does God want us to tell the truth? Because He is the truth, and He wants us to be like Him. To love God is to tell the truth in all things.
- And, we are to tell the truth in what we say AND in what we do.
- Your actions can be deceitful and basically hide the truth as much as what you say.
- So being truthful is not just the words you say, but in being truthful in your actions.
- Jesus took truthfulness a step further by saying we must speak the truth in a loving way.
- In the teaching verse, the apostle Paul tells Christians they correct error and tell truth in a loving way to grow the church.
- Your words and your actions can hurt people. Even the truth can hurt others if you don’t do it in a loving manner. That doesn’t mean you can lie. The truth is still one of God’s commandments.
- But you must consider why you are saying something before you say it.
- For example, telling someone they are short may be truthful, but it is using the truth to hurt someone.
- Jesus says we are not to use the truth as a weapon or in a manner that would hurt someone else.
- So, how do you know when you are hurting someone with the truth?
- It all depends on what is in your heart when you tell the truth. If your heart is good, then you are probably saying the truth for a godly reason.
- It always helps to stop and consider what you say before you say it, and why you are saying it.
- So, tell the truth, but be sure that you give the truth with love, like Jesus says we are to do.
Memory Verse #3
Ask if anybody knows it yet and can say it? Read it together 2X Consider having a memory verse pamphlet for kids take home.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Topical Questions
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Why is always telling the truth so hard to do?
Because we want our way -
Do you think if people knew it was one of the 10 commandments from God they would stop lying?
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Do you think people would tell the truth if they realized God knows when they lie?
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Give some more examples of telling the truth in love, and the converse, telling truth without love.
Closing Prayer
Dear Father God, we thank You for giving us the 9th commandment so that our whole world would value truth and know that You are the truth. And, we thank You that Jesus said He was the truth and the life, for no one comes to You Father God except through Jesus. Help these boys to always tell the truth in love, like Jesus did. For the truth will set us free, whereas lying is not freedom; it’s like being in prison. Help us all to choose to tell the truth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
