5th August 2025

Keep Your Word

 “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.'

Matthew 5:37.

Today's Bible Reading: Numbers 30.

When a witness is ready to testify in court, they raise their hand and say, “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help me, God.” The witness is calling God to be a witness to the truth of the testimony.

The basic principle taught in Numbers 30 is that vows must be kept. Our word must stand. Truth telling is an essential characteristic of Christians. Twisting the truth or telling lies has no place among us. The reason for this is that we are called to reflect God. “God is not human, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?” (Numbers 23:19). When our word can not be trusted, we look like the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44).

The Lord Jesus made clear the importance of truth telling when He said, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). He was saying that we should be so marked by the truth that we should not need a vow to back up our word. Sometimes a vow will be required of us. But let our word be enough. May our word be consistent with our actions. Many a person (believers) have be murdered, destroyed and put to death, because of lies.

Prayer:  Father, the temptation to lie or twist the truth is always strong. Help me to be someone who is known speaking the truth, and by doing so, reflect You. Amen