Truth and Lies
Scripture: John 8:39-41 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)
42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” (John 8:42-47 NLT)
Jesus is serious about the truth! Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31–32 NLT)
In our highly polarized social climate, some people believe anything that agrees with and supports their present opinion, and disbelieve and oppose anything that contradicts their present opinion. All without checking a single fact! I see Christian people posting things on social media that are grievous and embarrassing. They’ve picked them up from a favorite news source or from someone else’s opinionated post and haven’t made the slightest effort at fact-checking. Love for truth and a little common sense would help prevent a lot of error.
Dear friends, let’s be lovers of truth! Let’s never, ever, believe the lies and cooperate with the one Jesus calls “the father of lies” by spreading things that simply aren’t true! Will you honestly explore this matter of truth-receiving and truth-telling? Remember that every viewpoint is a view from a point and that some of the information is never all of the information. Make sure it’s true before you believe it. Make sure it’s the truth before you pass it on. Please love the truth!
Love the truth and check the facts! It might take a little longer, but it will help you be a person of the truth. And it will do wonders for your credibility among people who love the truth! We are the light of the world and light and truth go together!
Prayer:
Father, May my friends and I be lovers of the truth! May we believe the truth, tell the truth, and may we never believe the father of lies! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!