Daily Devotional For Thursday, August 28, 2025

Good morning Southside and hope all is well with you. We live in a culture where the truth is almost impossible to come by. No matter what side of the fence you are on, either side of that fence is convinced it has the truth and is not lying. Lying is something no one likes except a liar. When we are lied to and learn later we have been deceived, it erodes our willingness to trust anyone or any institution.

Proverbs 12:22 says, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth” (NLT). The first lie and deception we see in the Bible occurred in the Garden of Eden by the serpent. He lied to Adam and Eve and they took the bait and the result has been catastrophic ever since. Ever since that fateful day, humanity has struggled with being truthful. Here are some verses about lying:

• Proverbs 13:5, “The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace” (NLT).
• Proverbs 14:5, “A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies” (NASB).
• Proverbs 19:9, “A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish” (NASB).
• Proverbs 21:6, “Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap” (NLT).
• Proverbs 24:28, “Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them” (NLT).
• Proverbs 26:28, “A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin” (NLT).
• Leviticus 19:11, “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another” (NASB).
• Psalm 101:7, “He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before Me” (NASB).
• Luke 8:17, “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light” (NASB).
• Revelation 21:8,” But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (NASB).

Proverbs 12:22 calls to mind Proverbs 11:1, “The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but He delights in accurate weights” (NLT). Swindling someone will not only cost you your reputation, but it may cost you your life. Proverbs 12:22 sets in the context of Proverbs 12:17, 20, “He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit. (20) Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy” (NASB). God’s point is no wrong ever creates a right. There are always consequences for all our attitudes, actions and attributes. 

History is full of not just actual lies and deceit but fables as well. Remember the boy who cried wolf? Or, the emperor’s new clothes? Or, the cat and the mouse Or, Pinocchio? We read these to our children and then we lie at times. In the past, truthfulness and integrity were prized. People would say, “My word is as good as my bond.” Today, we expect politicians, celebrities, athletes and sales people to lie to us. We expect it, but the real question is this: do people expect us to lie? 

Sometimes we hold back the truth for fear we will offend someone or make someone mad. Someone asks us a question and we give them the answer we think they want to hear. I wonder if in the movie, A Few Good Men, Colonel Jessup, (played by Jack Nicholson) is right when he said from the stand in a trial, “You can’t handle the truth!” Ephesians 4:15 says,” Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (NLT). 

Assignment: Tell your family and friends to always be truthful with you no matter how they think you will take the truth. Always be truthful to others. If they can’t handle the truth, that is on them, not you. Do you want the Lord to detest your actions or delight in them? 

Scripture To Meditate On: John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Lord, help me to always be truthful in a loving way.  Help me to speak the truth in love, not harshly or critically. Father, when I lie, or make untruthful statements, please forgive me and restore to me the joy of my salvation. I denounce all lies and deceptions. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly