Scripture: John 18:37b-38
[Jesus said, buy ] “You say that I am a king. In fact, see the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate.

Thought for the Day: What is truth? Truth has many contexts. Truth can be an irrefutable fact: George Washington was the first President of the United States. Truth can also be personal and subjective: “Howard the Duck” was the worst movie ever made (hey, illness I know a couple people that liked that movie—taste is subjective, too).

We may hold certain truths to be self-evident, but in practice, there is great debate about what is or isn’t a universal truth. If some truths were self-evident and universal, there wouldn’t have been any debate about slavery when the Constitution was drafted, or a Civil War fought over the very idea that some humans are created less equal than others. The truth is we are ALL equal in the being of God.

In Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament, truth is associated with certain qualities of God. Truth is especially representative of faithfulness and reliability. When Jesus talks about truth, he is talking about qualities of God. If we are on the side of truth, we are on the side of faithfulness and reliability, in right relationship with God.

As Christians we listen to Jesus—who teaches us how to live a truthful life, always keeping in mind the two universal truths we can all agree on, even if we rarely put them into practice: Love God with all your heart and all your soul, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Prayer: Holy God who is everything to me, may your loving and accepting energy flow through my being like blood through my veins, giving me life, and helping me walk in the light of truth. Amen.