In Wisdom and in Truth

By Cheri Cowell –

Balancing the desire to be honest and truthful with our need to be compassionate and sensitive is a difficult bill to fill. I loved the Jim Carey movie Liar, Liar. I’m not usually a Jim Carey fan, but this movie was wonderful. He played a high power lawyer who for one day, because of his son’s birthday wish, could not tell a lie. There is one hilarious scene after another as he makes his way into the office. First, while in the elevator he encounters a voluptuous woman and honestly makes a comment that gets him smacked, he then passes a receptionist who asks if he likes her new hairdo, and finally he is honest with his receptionist about cheating her out of a raise. The movie is funny, but it raises some serious questions. Is this what God meant when He told us to always be truthful? Well, we are to be honest, but we do need wisdom for the appropriate time and manner to deliver the truth.

The scribes and Pharisees had set Jesus up in a trap. If He condemned the woman before Him, He would not be showing mercy; but if He did not allow the stoning, He would have broken temple law. But they didn’t realize they were dealing with the One in who grace and truth are perfectly blended into wisdom.

PRAYER: I praise You for Your perfect wisdom, mercy and grace. My heart’s desire is always to be truthful and at the same time be wise. Thank You for standing ready to share Your perfect wisdom with me, whenever I may need it.

“Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in asking Him, He stood up straight and replied, ‘Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then He bent over again and wrote on the ground. Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up straight and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She replied, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore’” (John 8:9-11 NET).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional at www.CheriCowell.com

Walking with the Wise

By Cheri Cowell –

“Such foolishness,” my grandmother would say, shaking her head in disbelief at the nightly news. We don’t hear that phrase too much anymore but it is a good one. It is good because the opposite of foolish is wise. In this context it is much easier for us to identify foolish versus wise choices. Read more

Careers

By Cheri Cowell –

Family game nights have become popular over the last few years, and many of the board games played today are new twists on old ideas. The game Careers is one of my old favorites because it allowed players to see what it would be like to succeed by choosing your own formula for success. Read more

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

By Cheri Cowell –

Have you ever found yourself between a rock and a hard place? It is an uncomfortable place to be—between two difficult choices, between two options that both seem good or both seem bad, while needing to make a decision that has consequences we don’t like. Read more

Returned to Sender

By Cheri Cowell –

Have you ever been hurt so badly you thought your heart was ripping from your chest? I have. As I began to heal, I thought I was doing the right thing by praying for those who hurt me. After all, isn’t that the best form of loving your enemy? Read more

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