November 3, 2013
Lies hurt people. Lies destroy lives. People tell lies to make themselves feel
better, or to make themselves look better.
Take a look at what these scriptures say about lying. “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But
those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Proverbs 12:22). “A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked
man is loathsome and comes to shame” (Proverbs 13:5). “Therefore
putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we
are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).
“If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and
do not practice the truth” (1 John 1: 6).
I am seriously struggling
with someone in my life that continually lies to many people. It is very discouraging, and literally makes
me cry.
I was encouraged this
morning during my devotions, and am hoping that if anyone is struggling with
the same, this encourages you. “4. In the quiet, we acknowledge that our
real enemy isn’t the other person.
This person with whom we’re in conflict may seem like the enemy and they
might even look like the enemy. But the
truth is, they aren’t the real culprit.
The real culprit is Satan, who is exerting influence on both me and the
person offending me. I don’t always
realize this in the heat of the moment, but in the quiet, I can remind myself
of the truth and choose a strategy for responding with self-control. That’s the wisdom of Scripture, which says, ‘Be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy
the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith’ (1
Peter 5: 8-9)” (Lysa Terkeurst’s Unglued Devotional).
If you are having a problem
with someone that is lying, first, check your own self, and then you need to
address that person face to face and confront it. It is NOT honoring or glorifying to God to be
untruthful, and we are instructed in the Bible to go to that person. “Take heed
to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke
him; and if he repents, forgive
him” (Luke 17:3). “Moreover
if your brother sins against you, go and
tell him his fault between you
and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your
brother” (Matthew 18:15). It is clear that we are to address it. The scripture in Matthew goes on to say that you
address it further if your brother does not listen. “But if he
will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let
him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector” (Matthew 18: 16-17). Serious
stuff! Holy God, help me to live for
You. Give me grace, and strength to do
what You command me to do. In Jesus
Name, Amen.
