Ephesians 6:11, 14 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. . . . 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…

Ephesians 6:11, 14 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. . . . 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…

                Satan plans to trap you today, but the “belt of truth” will protect you. Although telling the truth requires you to be vulnerable and transparent—sometimes completely exposing who you really are or what you actually did, it is your first line of defense.

           Students can see through facades.  When you are wrong—say so.  If you don’t know something, admit it and commit yourself to learn it.  When you forget something, accept responsibility.  Should you respond unkindly, apologize. Where you are irresponsible, admit it and become responsible again.  If you lose your temper, repent to those you attacked.  It may be difficult to do this at first, but students will have greater respect for you when you are honest about your mistakes. 

                Our natural response is to hide the real “me” by skirting the truth.  We believe people will not accept us as we really are so we develop a “fake” person to present to coworkers, business associates, parents, and students.  But Jesus tells us that the truth sets us free to be accepted for who we are and to live honestly, without fear, before God and man.  Rather than covering ourselves with facades, let us become transparent before God and man.  Choose freedom from performance— freedom from masks and deceptions.  Do not be caught in the trap of “doing” just to please others.   Confessing your faults sets you free to become someone better than you were (John 8:32).

Dear God, I want to be truthful in all things, in all ways, at all times.  Teach me to be as truthful as I want my students to be.  Prick my conscience when I am tempted to say anything less than the truth.