Daily Devotional
Are You Tempted to Lie?
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:16
May 18, 2023
Ponder This
When I was younger, I was driving down to my little country church with one headlight, hoping I could make it back to school and get it fixed. The highway patrolman stopped me and said, “Son, do you know you only have one headlight.” I responded, “I only have one headlight?” On one hand, you could say I told him the absolute truth. I only had one headlight. But the way I said it insinuated that I didn’t know that. When I got back in the car, the Holy Spirit tore me up and convicted me about my lie.
We can lie with the tone of our voice, and we also lie when we slander others. The Bible says in James 4:11, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.” It doesn’t say whether or not it’s true. We are not to slander. We’re not to speak with an evil spirit. A.B. Simpson, the great Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor, once said, “I would rather play with forked lightning, or take in my hands living wires with their fiery current, than speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ, or idly repeat the slanderous darts which thousands of Christians are hurling on others, to the hurt of their own souls and bodies.” When you listen to slander, you’re as guilty as the person who spreads it.
- When have you felt convicted about how you spoke against someone or told a lie?
- How do you respond when you hear someone speak against a brother or sister in Christ?
Practice This
Consider your habits and practices regarding speaking negatively about others or telling lies. Repent and surrender those things to God.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
