
Thursday, MAY 26, 2022
Day 25
LIES, LIES, LIES
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murdered from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. —John 8:44NLT
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!
- Walter Scott
Trust is a critical foundational requirement in any marriage. To love and become one with someone in decision and deed, it requires you trust someone and share you life with them.
Trust is built and maintained over time when you do what you say you are going to do. Respect and reputation is earned because you are trustworthy.
Deception can come in many forms and under many circumstances that if go unchecked, can build a chasm between you and your spouse over time.
Do you not honestly express you true feelings about your spouse’s behavior in a specific manner because you do not want to “hurt” their feelings, even though it’s a violation to you?
Do you hide financial information from your spouse like excessive shopping or credit card debt or maybe unknown additional bank accounts etc?
Do you keep having lunches with your friend of the opposite sex if it makes your spouse uncomfortable?
Do you maintain associations whether business or personal with persons who have no scruples even though it can put you or or relationship in harm’s way?
Do you often not share half truths because your spouse did not ask the right question and what they don’t know won’t hurt them?
Do you take the trusted intimate details of conversations held with your partner and spread it to others behind their backs?
Just like the first snake, the snake of deception is something that still creating major hardships in marriages today. When we walk in deceit and lies, we proclaim who our father is and it is not God.
You are reading this devotional because you have either accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord, or you are pursuing a knowledge of relationship with Him. There is no room for deception in God’s Kingdom or your marriage, no matter how difficult it may feel at times to tell the truth to your spouse.
If you are the offended spouse and your significant other comes clean, remember that this is a safe place. Knowing that we are called to be like our Heavenly Father, it is difficult to forgive when someone confesses to withholding or altering the truth. Make a decision from now on how you will respond.
1 Peter 1:15-17 tells us…. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose yo is holy. For the Scriptures say, You must be holy because I am holy. And remember that the Heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear or him during your time here as temporary residents. (NLT)
Prayer
God, we thank you that you change not and have been the same yesterday, today and forever more. You are trustworthy in all that you are and do. Help us to be more like you in word, thought and deed being honest in love at all times with our spouse. Help us to be a safe space that our spouse can come to be free, honest and open with us at all times. Where it is hard to give or receive truth, we ask for grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflections
- What are your thoughts on the danger of lies, even white-lies and half-truths? Based on this discussion, what commitment will you make to “speak the truth in love” to your spouse or in your other relationships?