Scripture for Today: Matthew 5:36-37 “And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond that comes from the evil one.”

There is something about being the youngest in my family that inspires me to keep up the illusion of youth.  Hair color is part of that illusion.  I have been coloring so long I can hardly remember my original hair color.  Of course, with coloring I am not really changing anything.  I am only covering what is there.  The colors pictured here are a bold statement.  If I were to copy this style it would come out as a sad whimper!

Our verse for today tells us not to swear by our heads.  It is part of a passage having to do with vows and oaths.  Not fulfilling a vow made to the Lord is something very serious.  In essence it is like lying to Him.  Rather than risk that we are told to avoid making oaths at all.  It was a common practice in Matthew’s day to include oaths to add credibility to statements or promises made to one another.

Rather than making myself more believable, speaking an oath tends to cheapen my words.  That is because I do not have complete control in my life.  There will always be a possibility that I will not be able to come through.  I do not have the power to change circumstances, be it hair color or something more important.  If I want to be taken seriously my “yes” should always be truthful, as well as my “no.”

Lord, make me careful of my words.  I need You to make me a person of integrity.