December 24 2025

Wednesday December 24

"Let Each One of You Speak Truth…”

Ephesians 4:25

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,"

for we are members of one another.

John 1:1&14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…...

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Merry Christmas!

Today is December 24—Christmas Eve. Tonight, many of us will attend Christmas Eve services, reminding ourselves once again that the real reason for the season is Jesus Christ.

We have been studying Ephesians chapter 4, where the Apostle Paul teaches that we are to live differently than we once did. Why? Because a new man has entered our lives. That new man is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, living in us through the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit now dwells within us, giving us a new life—a life that can walk in righteousness and do the things that please God.

Paul becomes very practical in this section, telling us what it means to put off the old man. In Ephesians 4:25, he begins by saying: “Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.”  Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of truth.

You may remember the moment when Pilate stood before Jesus and asked, “What is truth?” Just before that question, Jesus had declared in John 18:37: “Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." That brings to mind John chapter 10, where Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” To follow Jesus is to follow truth. To know the truth, we must have a personal relationship with the truth—because Jesus is the truth.

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is found in John chapter 1. Most of us go to Luke chapter 2 to read about the birth of Christ, but in John 1:1-2, we are taken back to eternity. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made by him.” Then, in John 1:14, John writes these wonderful words: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Here is John—a simple fisherman from the region of the Sea of Galilee—testifying, “We have met the truth. We have seen His glory.” He echoes this again in 1 John chapter 1, declaring that they had heard, seen, and touched the Word of life. This truth is none other than Jesus Christ—God in the flesh. John tells us that His glory was full of grace and truth. God reveals Himself as the source of all truth. Jesus later said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” When Pilate asked, “What is truth?” the answer, Jesus Christ, Truth Himself was standing right in front of him.

The Bible teaches that we are born speaking lies. Psalm 58:3 says, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Our natural hearts are part of the old man, the old nature, and “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). So how can you tell the difference between someone who follows Jesus and someone who does not? A follower of Jesus speaks the truth, believes the truth, and loves the truth. Where is truth found? Truth is found in Jesus Christ. Where is Christ found? In the Word of God. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

The greatest lie ever told was spoken by Satan in the Garden of Eden, when he told Eve, “You shall not surely die… you shall be like God, knowing good and evil.” In other words, “Follow your heart.”  You hear that message everywhere today, but it is not biblical. The Bible does not say, “Follow your heart.” Jesus said, “Follow me.” And when you follow Jesus, you follow the truth. Satan is still whispering this lie in our ears today. “You can decide what is right or wrong. Do what makes you feel good. You don’t need God”.  

That is why Jesus said He was born, “to bear witness to the truth”. When you know the truth—when you know Jesus—you can speak the truth to your neighbor. Truth builds up; lies tear down. Truth strengthens fellowship; lies destroy it. May God help us understand this: Jesus is the Truth. Let us love Him, live for Him, and speak His Truth. When you speak the truth, you bear witness to Jesus Christ! And if you have never received Him into your life, I encourage you to do so this Christmas Eve.

God bless you, and may you have a very Merry Christmas!