Don’t Lie to One Another
First of all I have to shout out a big Happy Birthday to my precious and beautiful wife, Ami! Happy 29th Birthday, again, Babe! OK, so maybe you’re not 29 anymore but…You’re even more beautiful and wonderful than the day I met you…and the day I married you! I am so blessed!
As one quick thinking husband said to his wife, “How do you expect me to remember your birthday when you look as young and beautiful as you did the day I met you?” Don’t try that one guys even if it does sound great…and is true. Always remember your wife’s birthday! Leads us right into today’s post…
“Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—” Paul (Colossians 3:9-10)
Lying to others is a great dishonor to Christ and His Word…however it is not just outright speaking something that is untrue. Deception and embellishment are forms of lying that do not exhibit our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Don’t Lie to One Another
Last week’s “one another” encouraged us to “think of others as better than ourselves.” One of the ways we do that is to honor others in what and how we share with them…truthfully in word and deed. We are not to lie to, embellish or deceive others in any way if we are truly walking with and in Christ.
The past couple of “one anothers” have been exceptionally powerful and good, even if not easy to follow through with because of our flesh. That’s why in all of these commands, positive or negative, we must die to our flesh…our selfish desires…in order to make God first in all things and then others above self. This is the only way to consistently fulfill these various commands in which we truly love “one another” in Christ, by daily putting on the new person that I am in Him and becoming more like Him!
I can only do this by The Holy Spirit in me and can only receive The Spirit by surrendering and submitting by faith in Christ and allow His grace, Truth and Love to fill me and then overflow to others.
As we continue, we find another negative one that I think we far too often don’t take seriously enough. In Colossians 3:9-10, Paul exhorts us as believers, “Do not lie to each other…” Here’s another “OUCH” if I’m honest and I would imagine it has been the same in your life at some point and maybe even now if your honest. This is not just about the tongue but the mind and heart as well.
What we tend to do is admit and work through the obvious, blatant lies that we know everyone can find out or eventually will notice. However, God’s Word tells us that what is done in darkness (no matter how small, insignificant or hidden we think it is…thus the darkness) will be brought to light (Luke 12:2-3).
We must remember this and continually lay every motive, thought and decision before Him and walk in His Truth. Even the little “white lies,” the partial truths (which are not Truth) told to gain advantage or avoid consequences, and even the prideful embellishment to make us look better in the sight of others, all fall into this category of “Do not lie to each other…”
How are you doing when it comes to lying to others and displaying the Shalom of His Truth in all of your life? You can only have it as you submit to Christ as Savior and Lord.
Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Christ calls us to purity and integrity (Shalom – wholeness) where every part of our lives are in line with His Truth. This is what The Holy Spirit through Paul is commanding us to in this “one another.” Will you respond with the integrity that only comes from Christ?
Love and Lordship…Action Item(s)
- Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start.
- Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
- What does lie, deception, embellishment conjure up in your mind?”
- What do you need to do to make sure you are in no way deceiving others in order to honor Christ and them?
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