Exodus 23:1-13
Tuesday, 10 October 2023
You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a malicious witness. You shall not follow the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to join together with a crowd in order to pervert justice; -Exodus 23:1-2 NASB
Truth is sometimes bitter and sometime hard to swallow but truth sets us free. God is not only concerned about our wellbeing, but He is also concerned about the interactive relationship of His people and the role they play in society and daily life activities.
Our stance for the truth in relationship with the Word of God is of vital importance. When we believe in what we stand for and stand on what we believe in accordance with the principles of God’s Word, it brings great reward. Following the crowd in whatever decision may appear to look well but standing alone outside the crowd for the LORD is worth more than an offer of a pot of gold. In Exodus 32:1-17, we see how the people were persuaded to make a golden calf. But Joshua in verse 17 waited patiently during all the forty days, in the place where Moses had left him below the summit of the mount, at a distance from the people, and out of the way of temptation.
This is why our Lord and Maker took his time to express his heart in the instruction of his people and their relationship, in giving them guidelines how to live. The laws given to them were both in their relationship with God as well as with their fellow beings. The key verse speaks of spreading false rumours and of giving false testimony. Words have power and their effects can be either good or harmful. Paul thus encouraged the brethren in Ephesus: “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.” (Ephesians 4:29). We have to consciously learn to use words that build up!
Our stance for the truth in our associations and interactions must be in accordance with the Lord’s purpose and desire for our lives and that of others. We should thoughtfully consider the desire and purpose of the Lord in the discharge of our duty and His people as we relate with His creation upon the face of the earth.
Our Lord and Master knew that His children will be placed in diverse facets of life and as a result will be representing His visible presence on earth in that particular area of assignment— be it Pastors, Teachers, Leaders, Judges, Doctors, Nurses etc. Wherever our placements are, the Lord's authority must be considered in our duty and how we represent Him. The Lord is keen and very much concerned of the way His people treat/ are treated, regardless of race, color or nationality. In fact, He is very much concerned about our stance for the truth with regards to strangers or foreigners.
We must be ready to give the best of our time for Lord and above all respecting Him and putting our Lord and King above all else. Our stance should not only be for people we know or our members, but to all of God’s creation with particular preference to strangers and foreigners, widows and orphans, the poor etc. Our stance is to do that which we believe the Lord our God would have done or do when He is present.
Thought for the Day: “For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” (1 Peter 3:10)