Practice 6 of 13
Tell the truth
Honest and kind, both at once.
Key points
- The practice: Honest and kind, both at once.
- Try this week: Catch one small lie this week, like “I’m fine” or an easy excuse, and tell the truth instead, kindly.
- The good news: You can tell Jesus the whole truth about yourself.
What Jesus did and taught
Peter’s worst night
The night Jesus is arrested, his close friend Peter is asked three times if he knows him. Scared, Peter lies three times.
Later, Jesus finds Peter by a lake. He doesn’t shame him.
He asks him three times, “Do you love me?”, once for each lie, and gives him a fresh start.
“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:32
Find it: Luke 22:54–62 and John 21:15–17
Read Luke 22:54–62
54 They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.” 58 After a little while someone else saw him, and said, “You also are one of them!” But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” 62 He went out, and wept bitterly.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Read John 21:15–17
15 So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Why it matters
Most lies come from fear: of shame, of trouble.
Truth is easier when you know you’ll be forgiven.
Try this week
Catch one small lie this week, like “I’m fine” or an easy excuse, and tell the truth instead, kindly.
Low-energy week? Notice when you’re tempted to bend the truth.
A question to carry
What are you afraid would happen if you told the truth?
With kids
Tell your kids: “You can always tell me the truth. I might be upset, but I’ll always love you.”
Go deeper
The good news
You can tell Jesus the whole truth about yourself. Like Peter, you won’t be thrown away for it.
You don’t earn anything by doing this practice. Why it starts with grace