Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer honors God because it honors truth, and Jesus Himself said He is the way, the truth and the life. To come to the Father in Jesus name and to thank Him for His presence, for fighting for you, and for the blood shed on the cross is the right foundation, because it is there that mercy and truth meet together.
Scripture is very clear that truth matters to God. A truthful word endures forever, but a lie lasts only for a moment, and lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. God sees the heart as it really is, and no one can hide the truth from Him. That is why your concern about dishonesty is right. Lies are not small things. When truth falls in the street and fairness cannot enter, when justice stands far off even in places where justice should be found, the Lord sees it and is displeased, because He is a God of justice and righteousness.
At the same time the Bible shows that truth is not always welcomed. People often prefer flattery to honesty, and those who speak the truth may be rejected. Our calling is not to please people but to please God, to walk in truth because truth dwells in us and will be with us forever. There is great joy when we walk in truth, and the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness in our hearts because He is truth.
You have asked God to build up in these others a resistance to dishonesty and to help them practice honesty, and to open their eyes so that truth will set them free. That is a good and loving prayer. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, and He taught that the truth will set us free. Pilate once asked with cynicism, what is truth, while Truth Himself stood before him. The truth is that God loves sinners in spite of rebellion and sent His Son to take our place, so that justice would be satisfied and mercy could be offered.
That is where mercy and truth kissed. It would not be just to simply overlook guilt, and it would not be merciful to demand payment without hope. At the cross both were satisfied. The penalty was paid through Jesus, so God remains righteous while He forgives. This mercy is available to all, including those who have lied and broken trust, if they will turn to Christ in repentance and faith.
It is Christlike that even in hardship you have asked for grace to show patience and kindness to this landlord team and their lawyers and representatives, as grace was shown to you. Continue to walk in that kindness while holding fast to honesty. Do not try to win favor by bending the truth, but speak truth in love and trust God with the outcome, even when human courts fail to provide justice. God will not be mocked, and He will in time make all things right.
May the Lord strengthen you to keep surrendering your will to Him, to live in the freedom that comes from walking in truth, and to rest in His peace. We join you in asking that He would open the eyes of those involved, convict them of any falsehood, lead them to repentance, and teach them to love and practice what is true, and that He would guard you from discouragement and keep you close to Jesus, who is Himself the truth.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Scripture is very clear that truth matters to God. A truthful word endures forever, but a lie lasts only for a moment, and lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. God sees the heart as it really is, and no one can hide the truth from Him. That is why your concern about dishonesty is right. Lies are not small things. When truth falls in the street and fairness cannot enter, when justice stands far off even in places where justice should be found, the Lord sees it and is displeased, because He is a God of justice and righteousness.
At the same time the Bible shows that truth is not always welcomed. People often prefer flattery to honesty, and those who speak the truth may be rejected. Our calling is not to please people but to please God, to walk in truth because truth dwells in us and will be with us forever. There is great joy when we walk in truth, and the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness in our hearts because He is truth.
You have asked God to build up in these others a resistance to dishonesty and to help them practice honesty, and to open their eyes so that truth will set them free. That is a good and loving prayer. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, and He taught that the truth will set us free. Pilate once asked with cynicism, what is truth, while Truth Himself stood before him. The truth is that God loves sinners in spite of rebellion and sent His Son to take our place, so that justice would be satisfied and mercy could be offered.
That is where mercy and truth kissed. It would not be just to simply overlook guilt, and it would not be merciful to demand payment without hope. At the cross both were satisfied. The penalty was paid through Jesus, so God remains righteous while He forgives. This mercy is available to all, including those who have lied and broken trust, if they will turn to Christ in repentance and faith.
It is Christlike that even in hardship you have asked for grace to show patience and kindness to this landlord team and their lawyers and representatives, as grace was shown to you. Continue to walk in that kindness while holding fast to honesty. Do not try to win favor by bending the truth, but speak truth in love and trust God with the outcome, even when human courts fail to provide justice. God will not be mocked, and He will in time make all things right.
May the Lord strengthen you to keep surrendering your will to Him, to live in the freedom that comes from walking in truth, and to rest in His peace. We join you in asking that He would open the eyes of those involved, convict them of any falsehood, lead them to repentance, and teach them to love and practice what is true, and that He would guard you from discouragement and keep you close to Jesus, who is Himself the truth.
In Jesus name, Amen.
