SEP 13

Psalm 58:1-5
Memorise Colossians 3:9
“They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

Once while having tea break with a few children, one child started to make a mess of the place. When he realized that adult eyes were upon him, he quickly instinctively pointed at another child, and said ‘he did it!’ You think they are just innocent children? Well think again. I am sure we have all encountered similar experiences where we see little children telling blatant lies. Have we ever wondered who taught them how to lie? How about for us? Did anyone teach us how to lie? How is it we can do it so well?

The Bible reveals to us that the sin of lying is an innate characteristic that we have from birth. As Psalm 58:3 says, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies”. This is a description of all of us, for we were all born in sin, and by nature we are wicked. From the time we exited the womb, we went astray from our Creator, and were naturally able to speak lies and deceive. You observe that even in babies, in the way they can cry and wail to manipulate their parents.

So you see, lying is a terrible habit that is deeply rooted in Man’s fallen sinful nature. As we get older, it only gets worse. As our minds develop, we also think up more creative and devious ways to lie. Left unchecked, lying can become almost instinctive. We easily resort to lying to cover up our faults, to shunt blame away from us, to make ourselves look good.

However, such trends must not be allowed to continue. As we are now in Christ, we must have entirely new perspectives. Lying is a sin of the old man that we should put off and cast aside. Colossians 3:9 tells us, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds”. This is what the Apostle Paul also said in Ephesians 4:22, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts”. We are no longer classed amongst the wicked, but are new creatures, created in righteousness and true holiness. We have a God to please, and a testimony to uphold, and thus lying can have no part in us any longer.

Thought: As a child of God, I am a new creature created in righteous- ness and true holiness. I must put off lying, which is part of the old corrupted nature.
Prayer: Lord, give me Thy grace to walk in the new life and nature which You have created in me. Help me to put off lying.