Lies put our truths into question

It doesn't take long for us to learn dishonesty.

My little girl is almost three years old.  I know when she stands in the corner and gets silent, that she's trying to quietly use the bathroom in her pull-up without me noticing.  Now if I notice her in the corner, I ask her if she is using the bathroom.

"No," she quickly replies, yet another giveaway.

Then I threaten her, usually using candy or something else she wants.

"If you are, and you're lying, no Halloween candy for you for the rest of the day."

Only then is she honest.  Sometimes.

And so goes the beginning of my little girl lying to me.  That, by far, is not the only way she's disobedient.  (Trust me, I have to get after her quite a bit.)  It is, however, a clear example that we learn to lie and be dishonest from an early age.

That's why God put lying in the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20:16 says we are not to give false testimony about our neighbor.  Don't say they did something they didn't do.  Or in otherword, don't lie.

God considers integrity to be a pretty big deal.  After all, God is truthful.  He wants his followers to be the same way.  God is trustworthy.  He wants us to be the same way. 

Lying is a big deal to God.  He doesn't want us to lie and destroy our credibility.  If we can lie under oath or about a friend or about anything, that it brings into question the story we share about Christ and our faith.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to call the story of Christ into question.  I want people to see the truth of it and of Jesus.  When I lie, I errode that.

So, be mindful of your words, your stories and your truths.  Be trustworthy so others may trust in Christ.

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