Thou Shalt Not Lie

Thou Shalt Not Lie

DON’T LIE

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

God hates lying. In fact, God thinks so much of truth that He uses the very word to describe His character. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And we are told in Scripture that it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). Lying is not in God’s nature; He cares a lot about truth.

When we lie, we are behaving more like a child of the devil than a child of God, because the Bible describes Satan as “the father of lies” (John 8:44). And we all lie a little more than we think. A study was done in which people were asked why they lie. Ninety-eight per cent of the respondents said they lie to keep from offending someone else. I can understand that to a certain degree, because telling the truth isn’t always easy—especially when you are asked a difficult question like, “How do I look in my new dress?” Or “Do you like my new hair style?”

There are subtle ways in which we tell lies, such as through flattery and exaggeration. We also lie when we say things like, “Oh, I forgot” (when we didn’t), or “It’s good to see you” (when it isn’t), or “I was just getting ready to call you” (when we weren’t). We also lie through gossiping and backbiting. We love to dispense gossip, and unfortunately, we love to hear it far too often.

Have you ever had someone gossip about you? Lie about you? Lie to you? Then you know how destructive it is. God hates lying—and He wants us to hate it too. He wants us to stick to the truth no matter the cost. In the end the truth always prevails.

Prayer: Confess and ask for forgiveness for any lie you’ve told in the past; ask the Holy Spirit to help you speak the truth at all times.

*Scriptural Reading Proverbs 6:12-19

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

13 He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

14 Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

NKJV

Thou Shalt Not Lie