“My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.”

Wisdom speaks truth and honesty; evil speaks lies. Typical of Solomon, we see a very clear line—black and white—between the wise and the wicked. As followers of Jesus, we need to be known just as clearly. Our words must be trustworthy in all circumstances. There are times when it can be a challenge to be 100% honest. It’s tempting to shade the truth in ways that make us look better. But the real test of our maturity comes when those little distortions seem harmless and easy to justify. That’s when our commitment to truth-telling is revealed. Years ago, I made a decision to eliminate anything less than straightforward truth. I’m not perfect, but it’s been a powerful journey. One of the first things I did was remove phrases like “to tell the truth,” “honestly,” and “to be honest” from my conversations. There’s a subtle message in those phrases—that we aren’t always honest at other times. Ruthlessly pursuing truth-telling is a great adventure for the wise. On the flip side is the obvious destruction caused by speaking wickedness. Incidentally, “wicked lips” aren’t just about lying. They include all the destructive things we say—words intended to tear down, hurt, deceive, or corrupt. Solomon’s point is clear. Our practice needs to be, too. Today, speak life and truth. #BeTheEdge

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalms‬ ‭145‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬