“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2013/01/09/making-it-right/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

Ephesians 4:25… Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.  (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul was writing to the believers from the church at Ephesus, in the opening scripture…  Paul had pastored this church for some 3 years; and after leaving, the believers had fallen prey to false teachers who were leading them astray… This letter was written by the Apostle Paul from prison in Rome, to remind them of their multiple blessings in Christ; and to live in a manner that was worthy of the position God had bestowed upon them…

A few verses before the opening scripture, the Apostle Paul reminds them that as Christians, they were to have turned from their old conduct and deceitful lusts (1 John 2:15-16); and to have put on the “new man” (2 Corinthians 5:17), who has been graced by God to live in righteousness and holiness…

Lying in any way shape or form, is a sin that comes from Satan…John 8:44… You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.  (NKJV)

Lying is not just telling a false statement…  It also includes exaggerations…telling a partial truth to cover up something, or mislead someone…making a foolish promise that you know you will not be able to keep…making a false excuse…cheating, in any way…or betraying a confidence someone has trusted you with… And when a Christian is caught in a lie; their integrity will be compromised…  Before I became a Christian, I thought cheating or lying was just part of the game…  Who doesn’t cheat a little here or there on their tax return, right ??   NOT  if you’re a Christian !!

The Christian who is walking in the Spirit, should in no way be able to lie…  Jesus tells us this, in…Matthew 5:37… But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.  (NKJV)  …I believe Christians should never use the word yes or no…unless they know with absolute certainty in their heart, that it shouldn’t have been a “maybe” or an “I hope so”…  Of course things happen in life that will keep us from our commitments…  But they should be unforeseen events… If a commitment has to be broken, it is best to notify those who you have promised, as soon as possible…

Anyone who believes a lie is OK…even just a little white lie…should understand how bad an offense God believes that lying really is…  The Apostle John, who wrote the last book of Revelation in the Bible…reveals the end of times through the revelation of Jesus Christ… Here, we see liars listed along with other major sins…that if left unpardoned by God’s grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ, will lead to the “second death”…

Revelation 21:8… But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, I pray that the truth from Your Word will impress upon all Christians…that even the smallest lie by any of Your children, is just not acceptable to You… I pray Father, that You would urge all of Your children to continue in their quest to be conformed to the image of Your Son Jesus (Romans 8:29)…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills