Don’t we all appreciate those in our lives whom we can count on? When they say they will be there or will do something, they mean it. Frustrations arise when we have dealings with unreliable people. We are never quite sure we can take them at their word.

It was important to Jesus that His followers use honesty and integrity in all of their speech. They would need to be people of their word, people who could be counted on. Though there was much swearing of oaths in Jesus’ day, He let people know that impressive-sounding promises—even swearing by someone or something—would mean nothing if the promise was not kept. We might put it this way: Mean what you say and say what you mean. A half century later, James, quoting his older brother, wrote, “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No’ be no, or you will be condemned” (5:12).

Try as we might to be true to our word, we still falter. Look to Jesus for strength to carry this out and for forgiveness when you fail. We have a perfect Savior whose Word never has and never will fail.