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# Devotional “Honesty: What Kind of Reputation Do You Have?”
- URL: https://thepulse.org/en/honesty-devotional/
- Published: 2022-03-21T05:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T09:18:12.000Z
- Description: How often do we try to get ahead in life by twisting the truth or flat-out lying? How often do we sacrifice honesty to stay one step ahead of others? This devotional helps your teenagers think about what honesty means.
- Author: Esther Penner
- Tags: Lessons, #age-teens, #topic-wisdom, #bible-luke, #bible-proverbs, #lessons-bible-topic, #lessons-duration-medium, #lessons-method-icebreaker, #lessons-method-video, #lessons-setting-plenary, #lessons-setting-small-group, #target-educators, #target-leaders, #context-youth-night, #context-small-group, #context-school

## Game: Cheat

⏱️ 10 minutes

A good way into the topic is the card game “Cheat,” also known as “I Doubt It” or “Bluff”: players lay down cards face down and announce what they are, and the others have to decide whether to believe them or call the bluff. You’ll find the rules on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheat%5F%28game%29?ref=thepulse.org).

## Movie scene: Javier gets an attractive offer

⏱️ 5 minutes

Watch the clip up to 1:44\. (Timestamps for DVD or streaming: 01:24:20 to 01:25:55)

Scene from the movie Courageous.

### Reflection questions

❓

How would you decide? Why?

❓

What do you think Javier will decide?

## Movie scene: Javier makes a decision

⏱️ 20 minutes

Watch the clip to the end. (Timestamps for DVD or streaming: 01:27:25 to 01:28:12 and 01:29:00 to 01:31:02)

Scene from the movie Courageous.

### Reflection questions

❓

What surprised you?

❓

What kind of reputation did Javier have after the conversation? (If you played “Cheat”: Who had a reputation for playing honestly? Who had a reputation for playing dishonestly?)

❓

How does our reputation affect the way others respond to us?

❓

What kind of reputation do you have with your friends, your siblings, your parents?

## Why honesty matters to God

📖 Read [Proverbs 10:9-11](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.10.9-11.NIV?ref=thepulse.org) and [Luke 12:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.12.2.NIV?ref=thepulse.org)

❓

Why is it important to God that we are honest and tell the truth?

❓

What tempts people to be dishonest? (If you played “Cheat”: What made you lie, twist the truth or stretch the truth in the game?)

❓

In which situations do you find it hard to tell the truth?

❓

What would help you be honest in those situations?

🙏🏼 Share with each other and pray for one another.

## Bonus: Bible study

💡

To go deeper, these passages are a good fit: [Ephesians 4:21-32](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EPH.4.21-32.NIV?ref=thepulse.org), [1 John 1:9](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1JN.1.9.NIV?ref=thepulse.org), [1 Corinthians 10:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.10.13.NIV?ref=thepulse.org)

*English version: September 2026*