The Faithfulness to Speak Truth | November 5th, 2026

Luke 3:18-20
18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

Acts 20:26-27
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God

2 Timothy 4:2-5
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

John the Baptist rebuked Herod publicly for living in sin. He called the wrong thing wrong, regardless of who was listening or what the consequences might be. The result was imprisonment. Herod wanted to silence the messenger, but conviction has a way of following a person even when the voice that delivered it has been locked away. Faithfulness to truth is costly. It will not always be welcomed. But the pastor who softens every hard word to protect his comfort, and the believer who never speaks truth to protect a friendship, are both failing the people they love. Truth, spoken in love, is a gift.

Application: Pray for one person in your life who needs to hear truth spoken with love. Ask God for the right words, the right moment, and the courage to follow through.