Day 229 – Honesty

Proverbs 26:18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, “I was only joking!”

• God’s names:
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal
• Elohiym – Supreme God
• Yeshuwa/Iesous – Jesus

• God’s character:
• Honesty

Every day people need to be careful of those who will try to swindle them out of their livelihood. They get phone calls that tell them they need to do this or that because their equipment isn’t working properly. You know them as scam calls. But what about the calls that sound legitimate. People realize too late that someone took every cent they had and then need to find ways to recover what was stolen from them. People who operate like that started early by playing jokes on their friends and neighbors and finished their pranks by saying they were only joking. If they could get away with it when they were young, they will keep trying to get away with it when they’re old.

Solomon saw that kind of behavior in his courts from people who came in and tried to deceive him. However, Solomon had YAHWEH and His Law to help him against those who would deceive him and his kingdom.

Deuteronomy 13:1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’ — which you have not known— ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for YAHWEH your Elohiym is testing you to know whether you love YAHWEH your Elohiym with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You should walk after YAHWEH your Elohiym and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you will serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams will be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from YAHWEH your Elohiym, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which YAHWEH your Elohiym commanded you to walk. So you will put away evil from your midst.

Christians need to be aware of the message they hear from the pulpit. Ministers have been shown to fleece the flock of Elohiym with sermons that sounded good, and pleas for money that sounded plausible, but when people looked carefully at the reports for the church, the money their leaders said they needed for various ministries, wasn’t allocated to those places. Instead, it was used for their own gain.

Yeshuwa told the people to beware of those who come in sheep’s clothing, but are wolves dressed to look good but aren’t.

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. (NKJV)

When you spend time in Yeshuwa’s Word every day, you will know the truth when you hear it. You will also know the lie and can stay away from those who try to sway you with false teaching.

What does Paul say in Ephesians about your enemy, Satan?

Ephesians 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (NKJV)

Peter also warns you against Satan.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (NKJV)

Read your Bible, pray, seek His face, and you will know the truth from a lie when you hear it from the pulpit or from those Christians who want to dupe you with their brand of Christianity.

Let’s pray: Father, keep me away from those who want to lead me away from you with false doctrine and evil intent. Help me to stay grounded in Your Word daily, so I know the truth when I hear it. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 5 September 2026 by Valerie Routhieaux

May you see God’s blessings when you spend time in His Word knowing the truth when you hear it.