July 2023
Dear Friends
Don’t you
hate it when you are lied to? From the
deep betrayal of a close friend, to infuriating bare-faced scams, to yet
another lie from political leaders, we loathe it all. How can they say that, knowing it is
not true?!
How
refreshing then when we meet people who tell it like it is, who neither flatter
to our face nor slander behind our back, who don’t cover up their mistakes or
spin everything to suit their agenda.
Truthful
speech was one of the things that people noticed about Jesus. Even his enemies acknowledged that he spoke
the truth and wasn’t swayed by men (Matthew 22:16). There are nearly 80 references in the Gospels
to Jesus saying, ‘I tell you the truth …’.
He told
people the truth about themselves even when it was unwelcome (Matthew
23:27). He spoke the truth about himself
and his Father even when that risked a violent reaction (John 10:31).
Others said
that he not only spoke truth, he was full of truth - there was simply no
deceit in him at all (John 1:14, 1 Peter 2:22).
Can you imagine how it felt to encounter someone so refreshingly
straightforward, and yet unnervingly honest?
To meet this man is to have your inner self laid bare and yet to be led
from crushing slavery to glorious freedom.
Jesus said that those who hold to his teaching “will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
Why not
drag out a garden chair this summer and read one of the short biographies (aka
Gospels) that are eyewitness accounts of this man of truth? If you’d like a free Gospel then send me a
text or email and I’ll be delighted to deliver one to you.
Sincerely
Graham Burrows
