To Tell the Truth
The Truth That Sets Us Free: Breaking Free from the Bondage of Lies
There's something deeply uncomfortable about discussing dishonesty. It's one of those topics we'd rather avoid, isn't it? Yet it's precisely the subjects that make us squirm that often need our attention most urgently.
The statistics are startling: 60 to 80% of people worldwide admit to telling at least one lie every day. The average person tells one to two lies daily, with most occurring in small group settings—those intimate gatherings where we feel compelled to make our stories sound bigger, better, more impressive than they really are.
Why do we do this? Often it's pride. Sometimes it's a lack of self-worth. We feel we need to justify ourselves, to make ourselves look bigger because we lack confidence in who we truly are.
The Weight of "Little White Lies"
Nearly 90% of lies are classified as "little white lies"—those seemingly harmless untruths we tell to avoid hurting feelings or sidestepping conflict. We've all been there. Your spouse asks if something looks good on them, and you hesitate, knowing the truth might sting.
But here's the challenge: Jesus never prioritized protecting feelings over speaking truth. When confronted, He told the truth—and yes, people got upset. Some even wanted to kill Him for it. Yet He remained steadfast because truth is foundational to freedom.
The problem isn't just that we tell these "harmless" lies. It's that one small lie opens the door for another, and another, until we become habitual liars without even realizing the transformation that's taken place.
What God Really Thinks About Lying
Proverbs 12:22 couldn't be clearer: "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight."
That word—abomination—deserves our attention. In Hebrew, it refers to something detestable, morally disgusting, or hateful to God. It denotes intense moral or religious condemnation. God doesn't just dislike lying; He detests it.
Why such strong language? Because a liar cannot be trusted, and untrustworthiness reflects the character of Satan himself.
In John 8:44, Jesus confronted the religious leaders with devastating clarity: "You are of your father the devil... 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."
That's the company lying keeps. When we lie, we're not reflecting God's character—we're reflecting Satan's.
The Eleven Abominations
Scripture identifies eleven things that are abominations to God, and lying appears prominently among them:
Revelation 21:8 drives this point home with sobering clarity: "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."
All liars. Not just the "big" liars. All of them.
The Character Question
As believers, we're called to reflect God's character. If people are supposed to see Jesus in us, what are they actually seeing? Truth or deception?
There are only two characters we can reflect: God's or Satan's. There's no middle ground. When we examine ourselves honestly, whose character are we displaying?
This is why heart transformation is so critical. Jesus spoke about Satan's heart being full of lies and deceit. When we become new creations in Christ, we receive a new heart and a new mind—one that no longer reflects the things of the flesh or Satan, but reflects the things of God.
The Freedom of Truth
Here's the beautiful paradox: honesty always wins, even when it seems like we might lose in the moment.
Consider the story of selling a vehicle with known defects. The natural inclination is to keep quiet about problems unless specifically asked. But when conviction comes and you choose to reveal everything—every flaw, every issue—something remarkable happens. Trust is built. Respect is earned. And often, the outcome is better than any deception could have produced.
When we tell the truth, we live in freedom. There are no chains holding us back, no need to justify ourselves later, no fear of being caught in a lie.
God Himself cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Why? Not because He lacks the ability, but because lying shows imperfection, and God is perfect in all His ways. His Word is true and forever settled. Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Truth was manifested in flesh—and though subject to everything we feel, Jesus never lied because He was truth.
Measuring Ourselves by Faith
Romans 12:3 offers this guidance: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."
Be honest in evaluating yourself. Measure yourself not by natural standards, but by the faith God has given you. This means we don't look at our current limitations—we look at our spiritual potential.
By faith, we can say: "I might not be there yet, but I can attain it. I can be what God has destined me to be. I can be honest. I can tell the truth. I can walk in God's blessings."
Today Is a New Day
Perhaps you've found yourself caught in patterns of dishonesty—those "little white lies" that have become habitual. Today can be different. Today is a fresh beginning.
Examine yourself. Ask God to reveal any area where truth isn't ruling. Whether it's lying, pride, idolatry, greed, or any other area where you've fallen short—lay it down.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Let my mind be transformed to the mind of Christ. Guard my thoughts. Let Your Word penetrate my heart.
Transform my lips that they may only speak words of heaven—words of edification, love, mercy, and grace. Remove words of condemnation, hatred, and vileness. Let my speech only edify You and speak love to those around me.
The Promise of Trust
If you will trust Him—truly trust Him—and quit trying to handle situations your own way, God will work things out for your benefit. You will be the one standing. You will be able to smile even in troubled situations.
Truth isn't just a moral imperative; it's a pathway to freedom, blessing, and intimacy with God. When we align ourselves with truth, we align ourselves with the very character of God Himself.
The world desperately needs believers who can be trusted, whose word means something, who reflect the unchanging character of a God who cannot lie.
Will you be one of them?
There's something deeply uncomfortable about discussing dishonesty. It's one of those topics we'd rather avoid, isn't it? Yet it's precisely the subjects that make us squirm that often need our attention most urgently.
The statistics are startling: 60 to 80% of people worldwide admit to telling at least one lie every day. The average person tells one to two lies daily, with most occurring in small group settings—those intimate gatherings where we feel compelled to make our stories sound bigger, better, more impressive than they really are.
Why do we do this? Often it's pride. Sometimes it's a lack of self-worth. We feel we need to justify ourselves, to make ourselves look bigger because we lack confidence in who we truly are.
The Weight of "Little White Lies"
Nearly 90% of lies are classified as "little white lies"—those seemingly harmless untruths we tell to avoid hurting feelings or sidestepping conflict. We've all been there. Your spouse asks if something looks good on them, and you hesitate, knowing the truth might sting.
But here's the challenge: Jesus never prioritized protecting feelings over speaking truth. When confronted, He told the truth—and yes, people got upset. Some even wanted to kill Him for it. Yet He remained steadfast because truth is foundational to freedom.
The problem isn't just that we tell these "harmless" lies. It's that one small lie opens the door for another, and another, until we become habitual liars without even realizing the transformation that's taken place.
What God Really Thinks About Lying
Proverbs 12:22 couldn't be clearer: "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight."
That word—abomination—deserves our attention. In Hebrew, it refers to something detestable, morally disgusting, or hateful to God. It denotes intense moral or religious condemnation. God doesn't just dislike lying; He detests it.
Why such strong language? Because a liar cannot be trusted, and untrustworthiness reflects the character of Satan himself.
In John 8:44, Jesus confronted the religious leaders with devastating clarity: "You are of your father the devil... 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."
That's the company lying keeps. When we lie, we're not reflecting God's character—we're reflecting Satan's.
The Eleven Abominations
Scripture identifies eleven things that are abominations to God, and lying appears prominently among them:
- Idolatry
- Child sacrifice
- Witchcraft and occult practices
- Cross-dressing
- Dishonesty and cheating
- Lying and false witness
- Pride
- Violence and wicked plans
- Causing division among God's people
- Hypocritical worship
Revelation 21:8 drives this point home with sobering clarity: "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."
All liars. Not just the "big" liars. All of them.
The Character Question
As believers, we're called to reflect God's character. If people are supposed to see Jesus in us, what are they actually seeing? Truth or deception?
There are only two characters we can reflect: God's or Satan's. There's no middle ground. When we examine ourselves honestly, whose character are we displaying?
This is why heart transformation is so critical. Jesus spoke about Satan's heart being full of lies and deceit. When we become new creations in Christ, we receive a new heart and a new mind—one that no longer reflects the things of the flesh or Satan, but reflects the things of God.
The Freedom of Truth
Here's the beautiful paradox: honesty always wins, even when it seems like we might lose in the moment.
Consider the story of selling a vehicle with known defects. The natural inclination is to keep quiet about problems unless specifically asked. But when conviction comes and you choose to reveal everything—every flaw, every issue—something remarkable happens. Trust is built. Respect is earned. And often, the outcome is better than any deception could have produced.
When we tell the truth, we live in freedom. There are no chains holding us back, no need to justify ourselves later, no fear of being caught in a lie.
God Himself cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Why? Not because He lacks the ability, but because lying shows imperfection, and God is perfect in all His ways. His Word is true and forever settled. Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Truth was manifested in flesh—and though subject to everything we feel, Jesus never lied because He was truth.
Measuring Ourselves by Faith
Romans 12:3 offers this guidance: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."
Be honest in evaluating yourself. Measure yourself not by natural standards, but by the faith God has given you. This means we don't look at our current limitations—we look at our spiritual potential.
By faith, we can say: "I might not be there yet, but I can attain it. I can be what God has destined me to be. I can be honest. I can tell the truth. I can walk in God's blessings."
Today Is a New Day
Perhaps you've found yourself caught in patterns of dishonesty—those "little white lies" that have become habitual. Today can be different. Today is a fresh beginning.
Examine yourself. Ask God to reveal any area where truth isn't ruling. Whether it's lying, pride, idolatry, greed, or any other area where you've fallen short—lay it down.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Let my mind be transformed to the mind of Christ. Guard my thoughts. Let Your Word penetrate my heart.
Transform my lips that they may only speak words of heaven—words of edification, love, mercy, and grace. Remove words of condemnation, hatred, and vileness. Let my speech only edify You and speak love to those around me.
The Promise of Trust
If you will trust Him—truly trust Him—and quit trying to handle situations your own way, God will work things out for your benefit. You will be the one standing. You will be able to smile even in troubled situations.
Truth isn't just a moral imperative; it's a pathway to freedom, blessing, and intimacy with God. When we align ourselves with truth, we align ourselves with the very character of God Himself.
The world desperately needs believers who can be trusted, whose word means something, who reflect the unchanging character of a God who cannot lie.
Will you be one of them?
Posted in 52 Week Devotional
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