WHY BE HONEST? - THE STRUGGLE WITHIN

Most people glance at themselves in a mirror every morning before going out in public . Why? Because they want to look their best. But there is something much more important than having stylish haircut  or fashionable clothes.  Indeed, the person we are on the inside can either add to or distract from our outward appearance.

God's Word frankly admits that we are inclined to do what is bad.  "The inclination of the heart of man is bad from his  youth up," says Genesis 8:21.  Thus to be honest, we might  fight against our inborn sinful tendencies. The apostle Paul gave a vivid description of his own fight against sin, saying: "I really delight in the law of God according to the man I am within, but I see in my body another law warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to sin's law that is in my body." -ROMANS 7:22, 23.

For example, when our heart urges us to do what is bad and we have a strong inclination to be dishonest, we do not have to be a slave to our heart's impulses.  We still have a choice in the matter. When we should reject a bad thought, we can remain honest despite the dishonesty surrounding us.

Next time: WHY BE HONEST? - WINNING THE BATTLE

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