Daily Devotional – Friday, December 26
Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death only on the testimony of two or three witnesses. No one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6 (NIV)
Imagine standing in a busy marketplace where a crowd has already decided your guilt before you have spoken a word. Whispers grow louder, stories twist, and soon the noise feels heavier than the truth. No one asks for evidence. No one waits to hear your side. In moments like that, justice is replaced by assumption, and reputations are damaged in seconds. We have all seen how quickly this kind of scene plays out in real life.
Truth Deserves a Hearing
God’s law, however, points us in a very different direction. Deuteronomy 17:6 establishes a clear standard for fairness. Serious judgements were never to be made on the word of one person alone. Truth required confirmation, patience, and careful listening. This principle protected lives and upheld justice, and it still matters today.
Jesus reinforced this idea when He spoke about resolving conflicts with witnesses in Matthew 18:16. Paul echoed the same wisdom in 1 Timothy 5:19 when addressing accusations. Together, they remind us that God values truth over rumour and fairness over haste. When we share negative information without verification, we step outside this godly pattern.
More Than One Voice Matters
This challenge feels especially relevant in a world shaped by social media, where opinions spread faster than facts. It is easy to forward a story or repeat a claim simply because it sounds convincing or confirms our feelings. Yet Proverbs 18:13 warns that responding before fully hearing a matter leads to folly and shame.
Before we judge or speak, it helps to pause and ask thoughtful questions. Is this true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it helpful? If not, wisdom may call us to remain silent and seek understanding instead.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, teach me to seek truth carefully and to guard my words so I do not harm others unfairly.
