So glad you can join me for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

John Blaze wrote today's reading, and he titled it, Almost True, is Still False.

Cinematography? Well done. Soundtrack? Reflective and calming. Content? Intriguing and relatable.

The video presented a study in which redwood trees were injected with a substance similar to adrenaline

to keep them from going dormant. The injected trees died because they weren't allowed the natural cycle of wintering.

The video's message was that this can happen to us as well if we're always busy with no seasons

of rest. And that can be true. But the video was inaccurate. There never was such a study.

Redwoods are evergreens and never go dormant,

and the trees in the video were giant sequoias, not coastal redwoods. As thoughtful as the video seemed to be, it was based on falsehoods. We find ourselves living in an age where, due to our technologies, lies are magnified

and multiplied to the limits of convincing us they're true. The book of Proverbs, that compendium

of godly wisdom, speaks often of the stark difference between truth and lies. Truthful

lips endure forever, says Proverbs 12,

but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

And the very next adage tells us,

deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,

but those who promote peace have joy.

Honesty applies to everything, from God's commands, to videos about

wintering. The truth endures forever.

The scripture reading for today's devotional is from Proverbs 12 verses 17 through 20.

An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

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