GOD IS TRUE. THERE IS NOTHING FALSE IN HIM.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read John 7:28-30.

Verse of the Day: [Jesus replied,] “Those the Father speaks to, who learn the truth from him, will be attracted to me” (John 6:45, TLB).

Abby’s mom heard a loud crash and dashed into the family room, where Abby had been playing. She discovered Abby standing alone by the window, her hands clasped behind her back. The window behind Abby had shattered, and Mom cleverly detected the cause of the broken window-the end of the broomstick that still poked through the broken pane.

“Abby,” Mom said sternly, “you broke the window, didn’t you?”

“No, ma’am,” Abby said, her voice and her face as sweet as candy.

Mom propped her hands on her hips. “Now, Abby, I’m not angry at you because of the broken window, but I want you to tell me the truth. You broke the window, didn’t you?”

Abby shook her head. “No, ma’am,” she answered.

Mom sighed and held out her hand to Abby. Abby took her mom’s hand and they walked together into the kitchen. Mom lifted Abby to a sitting position on the kitchen counter so they could talk “eye to eye.”

“Abby,” Mom said, “do you remember what God says about being truthful?”

Abby nodded, her eyes wide. “He says not to tell lies,” she answered.

“That’s right. And do you remember why he says not to tell lies?”

Abby wrinkled her brow. “Because,” she said softly, “he never tells lies.”

Mom smiled. “Very good. And do you remember why God never tells lies?”

Abby rolled her eyes upward, as if she were watching a fly on the ceiling.

“Can I help you remember?” Mom asked.

Abby nodded, her gaze still on the ceiling.

“God doesn’t want us to lie because he is true, Abby. Everything about God is true. And because he is always true, he wants us to tell the truth. When we tell the truth, we show each other what God looks like. That’s what he likes.”

Abby licked her lips. “I didn’t mean to break the window, Mommy,” she said. “I was playing with the broomstick, and I turned around and the window broke.”

“I know,” Mom said. She picked Abby up off the counter and whirled around the kitchen with her in her arms.

“Are you happy that I broke the window, Mommy?” Abby asked.

Mom stopped spinning. “No,” she answered, smiling. “But I’m very happy that you told the truth.”

TO DISCUSS: Why does God want us to be truthful? What does telling the truth accomplish in us?

TO PRAY: “Lord, we want to be truthful because you are truthful. We want to value truthfulness because you value it.”