Honesty

Yesterday I had some papers notarized. I went before a person known as Notary Public and signed a legal document. The Notary then signed as a witness to my signature and stamped the document with a seal. I put the document into the mail and when it arrives at its destination, the recipients will be able to say with certitude that I signed the document myself.
The seal of the Notary, who was appointed by the Texas Secretary of State, gives dignity to the document because of the certain honesty of the person whose signature and seal is now a part of the agreement I signed.
It is a wonderful situation when people can be trusted to be truthful and honest.
Jesus urged us to speak the truth in all honesty and forthrightness: “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37 NLT).
God thunders from Heaven to us: “Let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24 ASV).
“Tell the truth.” “Be honest in all things.” “Let integrity be your hallmark.” “Be sure people can trust you in everything.” Let “I give you my word” be the last word necessary because the person to whom this is said believes that word , having no reason to doubt.
Perhaps the nicest thing about always telling the truth is that we don’t have to think back on what we said the first time we told the truth. We can easily do it again, because it is the truth.