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REFLECTION

“They abhor the truthteller” is the theme for our reflection. To abhor means to regard with disgust and hatred. The Prophet Amos warned Israel about their unrepentance and God’s impending judgement. He narrated the form of destruction that will come upon the nation because of the corruption and injustice that has engulfed the nation. Regardless of God’s wrath, he admonished them to “Seek the LORD and live…” (Amos 5:6) unfortunately, Amos observed that the messenger of God is received with hostility. “They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.” (Amos 5:10)

Dear friend in the Lord, who is a truthteller in our generation? A truthteller is a person who has been saved by our Lord Jesus Christ and set apart to live a transformed life by following the perfect and impactful image and example of Christ while preaching the Gospel to bring light to where there is darkness so that all those who believe will be saved. This is what the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is about. The truthteller is a believer of Christ who feels uncomfortable and indignant amid corruption, injustice and disrespect for human dignity and hence becomes the voice of God in revealing the will of God concerning the evil practices in society and against those who do them. The foundation and authority of a truthteller is God and the Scripture. One cannot be a truthteller if he or she is a beneficiary of a corrupt and unjust system.

Beloved in the Lord, it is however unusual for the truthteller to be in the good books of evildoers and nation wreckers. Those who benefit and profit from injustice and corruption abhor or regard the truthteller with disgust and hatred to the point that they plot his or her death. This was the fate of Jeremiah, Elijah, John the Baptist, the Apostles and ultimately Jesus Christ our Lord, except that He resurrected on the third day after His suffering and crucifixion. Due to the cost of being a truthteller, we have many evildoers but few truthtellers. To be a truthteller, you must be ready for persecution, insults, spiritual and physical attacks, indeed it comes at a great cost but Jesus gives us the assurance that “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12) Dear friend, we find ourselves in an era where corruption, murder, immorality and all manner of evil have engulfed our nation, Christians must be truthtellers regardless of the cost. We must be truthtellers because “You are the salt of the earth…” and “You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:13-14). Be bold and do not be afraid to execute your mandate as a believer and a truthteller at your office, in your family, in your church, in the public vehicle and in any gathering where you have the opportunity to address people. Peter admonishes us that “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Shalom

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, grant us the courage to be truthtellers by preaching the Gospel in a hostile world, may the blessings and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us even when we are abhorred for speaking the truth.  Amen.