Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth. John 17:17
Linda Brown is a generous soul.
A week or so ago, she got out of her Hummer limousine, walked into a store in Columbus, Ohio, announced she had won the lottery and would pay for everyone's purchases -- up to a maximum of $500.
People immediately called their friends, family, and neighbors! Soon 500 folks were standing at the cash registers and 1,000 people were waiting to get in the store.
After an hour or so, the storeowners realized Brown hadn't paid any bills yet. When they went looking for her, they found she had left to go to the bank to get her cash.
Sadly, Linda Brown didn't have enough money in the bank. She didn't have enough money to pay for the store purchases. She didn't have enough money to pay for the limo rental. She didn't have enough.
When the people in the store found out they had been lied to, they went nuts. They wanted their free stuff. Some fled the store with stolen merchandise; others began throwing clothes all over. By the time they were done it looked like hurricane Katrina had ripped through the building.
At the end of the day everyone was disappointed. Everyone!
Maybe we shouldn't be surprised. Lies have a tendency to let people down, don't they? Satan lied to our first ancestors in the Garden and he's been lying to humanity ever since.
The Lord says, "My Word is truth" and Satan says, "There is no such thing as 'truth.'" God says, "Forgiveness, faith, and salvation is found only in Jesus," and the devil lies by saying, "There are many ways to heaven, if there is a heaven."
Somebody is lying here and I pray you know that somebody isn't the Triune God. And if you're not sure, please, take Him at His Word and search the Scriptures. There you will find He has always told the truth.
And the folks who believe Satan's lies . . . well, they are going to find themselves incredibly disappointed. One might say, eternally disappointed.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord I give thanks for Your truth and my salvation which comes only through Jesus. Now, I pray others may see past Satan's lies and be brought to faith in the Savior. In His 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: Jeremiah 25, 45-46 Hebrews 1
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