Do You Live the Truth?

• By candidasullivan
• September 2, 2026
• No Comments

Do you live the truth?

I remember vividly the moment someone called me out on my judgments and exposed what was inside me. I said one thing and lived another. When he told me that he didn’t feel loved by me and he didn’t like my God, it hurt me so deeply. But it also helped me. 

It showed me his interpretation of it all. The God I was telling him about, and the God he experienced through me, didn’t seem like the same God.

The day I learned that we can get so caught up in trying to be a perfect Christian that we fail to be Christlike. We can push people away with our harsh judgments and misinterpretation of the Scripture. 

Sometimes we become so focused on identifying what is wrong that we forget why we desperately need grace ourselves. God’s truth matters. Sin matters. Obedience matters. But Jesus showed us that truth doesn’t require humiliation.

We can tell the truth without throwing stones.

John 8:4-12 King James Version

⁴ They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

⁵ Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

⁶ This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

⁷ So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

⁸ And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

⁹ And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

¹⁰ When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

¹¹ She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

This is such a beautiful example of a Godly love. Jesus could have shamed her. He could have made an example of her. But instead, He loved her. He heard about her sin and loved her anyway. 

We can use this example in our everyday life. When we feel tempted to judge and stone others, we can choose to love and pray for them instead. 

If the only reason I reach for my Bible is to prove how wrong someone else is, I need to examine my heart. Scripture can absolutely correct us, but correction should never become an excuse for cruelty. Sometimes people need truth, but they should never have to wonder whether that truth is being offered in love.

Before I use scripture to examine someone else’s life, perhaps I should allow scripture to examine mine.

The enemy tells them they are bad because of their sin. He uses their sin against them. But we can tell them where they can find forgiveness, love, and grace. And in doing so, we will show them love. God is love. 

That moment, years ago, God opened my eyes. Those words broke my heart, but God used them to change it.

I don’t want someone to encounter my judgment and mistake it for God’s heart. I don’t want to become so concerned with proving that I know the truth that I fail to live it.

I want to tell the truth. But even more, I want to live in such a way that people can see the One who is truth.

Sometimes that may mean speaking correction. Sometimes it may mean remaining quiet and praying. But whatever God asks me to do, I want love to be present.

Sweet friend, before we pick up a stone, maybe we should remember the grace that caused Jesus to put ours down.