i've always valued honesty
honesty in myself
honesty in others
even Jesus said that if a heart was not honest, that nothing good could grow in it

but lately I realized that honesty is actually complex
it is not the simple act of stating what is on your mind
that is a form of honesty
but not the highest form

God has told us that all liars will be cast into you-know-where
and so- we must not lie
but the scriptures also encourage that we would not be tale-bearers or repeaters of things
I have often justified myself by honesty
I have said a rude comment or mean comment and thought
well, I am just being honest
or I have repeated something questionable, and then
comforted myself in the honest clause.

but I had the sickest thought last night
that even Hitler was honest
he was doing what was in his heart
what he thought was right
he was being true to himself
and so I think of others clearly living in a dark way
that are also just being honest... just being true to themselves

and I realize that being honest to ones self is not the stairway to heaven

true honesty is deeper
it is in honestly looking at ones self- within ones self
it is realizing ones smallness, ones sin, ones imperfection
ones need for Christ.
that is true honesty.

true honesty is looking into the face of God
and being beyond humbled
because we see our flesh,we hear our thoughts, we know our hearts
and realize that we are not pure
but He is.

true honesty is wanting to be as close to that source of power and light as possible
true honesty is fearing death
needing a Savior
seeking Him
cleaving to Him
reading his Word
with hunger
for salvation

true honesty doesn't hold a morsel of pride
or a morsel of accusation to another

I am in desperate need for more honesty in myself

I always love what Dennis said that-
our only righteousness in in Christ, and thus we strive to live honestly..
so honesty goes further
that we would be true to Christ
we see that even giving our entire being and thoughts and life to Christ and seeking to live according to his Word

is just the least we can do
it isn't much

who are we kidding?
do we really want to meet God without having lived honestly?