2001-10-14 - Dishonesty

Passages About the Ten Commandments, Part 8

This week we will look at passages related to lying. We have in the current news, a tragic example of the harm lies can do. Osama bin Laden is stirring up anger and hatred, with lies that the US is attacking Islam. Of course, if you have read or watched news on this, you realize that in fact, our president and country have gone out of our way, to make a huge distinction between mainstream Islam and what Osama believes (which is a terrible distortion of the true Koran). But they don't have a free press in some of those areas, and hear only the lies that their governments want them to hear. And because of this dishonesty, people will lose their lives - soliders on both sides - and probably some civilians, victims of misunderstanding borne of dishonesty. Whether it's on an international scale, or among family, friends or coworkers, dishonesty breeds trouble. The Scriptures are clear about how God feels about dishonesty. All passages are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV).

Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Colossians 3:9-10 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me."

1 Corinthians 5:8 Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Ephesians 6:14a Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth.

Jan

 jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org