Acceptance of Lies or Truth?

When we hear something said that is negative about a person we may know, do we readily accept a false truth over questioning a wonderful compliment? Sometimes we put the truth on trial and easily accept a half truth; which is a lie.

I was surprised to see in scripture that gossip was listed along with murder as being worthy of death. In reality, we can murder a person with our words, and we see evidence of that in the suicide rate of people who have been bullied. So, our words should be carefully considered before they leave our mouths. God has emphasized that to me. I have to ask daily for Him to order my words to be pleasing to Him.

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless; heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteousness decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”  Romans 1:28-32  NIV

“If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I John 1:9  NKJV