Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
Bella DePaulo is an expert on lying.
Bella is not an expert because she does more lying than other people. She is an expert because, as a visiting professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, she has done research on lying and other forms of deception.
According to DePaulo there are generally two kinds of lies:
1. Self-centered lies, told to make the teller look better, or to avoid conflict or embarrassment.
2. Other-centered lies, told to spare another individual’s feelings.
Of course, most of us would add a third type of lie—the kind people tell to manipulate, deceive, and hurt someone else.
The key point DePaulo wanted to make is this: we all lie. A lot.
Some say Abraham Lincoln never told a lie, but I think that trophy has to go to Jesus who alone was perfect in thought, word, and action.
In truth, we do lie. Many of us lie when we think we have to; some lie when it’s not necessary; some even lie when it’s going to hurt them.
People lie.
That is why it is wonderful to have a Savior who tells the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Of course humanity may not like what the Lord says. People argue when God says, “The wages of sin is death.” Other religions don’t like it when Jesus says, “Nobody can be saved except through Him.”
No matter what people may want to hear, the Lord’s inspired, inerrant Word tells the truth. Now, because God has spoken the truth, we can put absolute confidence in what He tells us. We can trust Him when He says, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3: 17-18).
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, for being the Truth in a world of lies, You have my deepest gratitude. No matter what others may say, may the Holy Spirit keep me trusting and holding fast to You. In Your Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 31-32 Matthew 20:1-16
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