“You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44, NRSV)
Jesus used the above words in dealing with some Jewish leaders who thought they were godly and righteous. Jesus called them out for being liars and living a lie. Now, think about this for one moment. These Jewish leaders were convinced they were holier, more righteous, more religious than others. They thought they were even more holy than Jesus. Jesus saw them differently. He noted that these specific Jewish leaders were doing the devils’ work. How? They were lying to themselves and to others. A few verses later, Jesus made clear that while HE taught about the truth, these Jewish leaders lived a lie.
Just as these Jewish leaders though they were faithful when in fact they were living a lie, there are many people today (even lifelong Christians!) who think they are being faithful when in fact they are living a lie. They lie to themselves. They do not speak the truth. They believe what is not true. They spread what is false. Christians who distort or outright spread lies instead of the truth are not spreading the gospel or being righteous in any way. They too are “children of the devil”. They too have “no truth in them” (John 8:44).
In John 8:44, Jesus called out these Jewish leaders as liars. They lied to themselves. They did not know the truth and even rejected it. They saw Jesus as evil. They believed the gospel to be untrue. Because they rejected Jesus, they rejected the truth of the gospel. This caused them to be allied with the devil. Then, these people ended up “doing their father’s desires”, the devils desires. Why? Because “there was no truth in the devil” either. Jesus characterized the devil in this verse as “a liar” and “the father of lies”. Satan is a “murderer”. There is “no truth in him”. He lives and breathes lies.
As for you, my beloved reader, don’t be too quick to judge these Jewish leaders. They were very religious people like you. They worshipped our God. They sat in sanctuaries and sang praises. They read their Bible daily. They prayed often. However, they still believed the lies perpetuated by the manipulation of the devil. They did not recognize the lies they believed. All their reading of the Bible and worship was for naught because they lived a lie. Until they accepted God’s truth, they would remain deceived by the devil.
Are there any lies that might be separating you from God? Are you afraid of some bit of truth God needs you to accept? Is there a lie you tell yourself that damages your relationship with Jesus?
Renee is a wonderful mother. She is loved by her husband. She is cherished by her church. However, Renee is living a lie. Inside her heart and soul, Renee feels she is undeserving of forgiveness by God. When Renee was young, she lived in a dysfunctional household. She was punished for the slightest error. If she brought home a “C” on a test, she was punished. If she forgot to do any one of her dozen chores, she was sent to her room without dinner. If she dared question why her parents were doing something, she was beaten. When she made a mistake in her cleaning or homework or actions, she was chastised over and over repeatedly for days. Renee’s parents believed the lie that children should be beaten until they are afraid of you, beaten into submission, beaten until they do anything the parent needs. To this day, Renee carries this fear of failing and lack of forgiveness inside her heart and soul. Beaten into her by her parents, this attitude even pervades and poisons her relationship with God. In her prayers as in her dealings with God, Renee feels like a failure, unworthy, and undeserving of grace.
Renee is a very religious person. But inside, she is living a lie where she does not deserve love and forgiveness and the grace of God. She feels like the only way she can receive the love of God is by doing extra-special things for others. Sadly, she feels the need to earn her grace and forgiveness from God and others, as if this was possible! She feels undeserving of Jesus’ love. When she fails, she tells herself over and over that she is worthless. The lies go deep into her heart and soul and mind.
Unless Renee fully accepts that she is living a lie and accepts the truth of the gospel, she will never really understand salvation. Until she lets go of her self-loathing, she will not be able to see herself as a true child of God.
Many people who sit in the pews on Sunday morning are living with lies. Some lies have been taught to them. Some lies have come from distorting the truth. In any case, the lies they believe damage their relationship with God in Christ. They distort their view of the true gospel. Until they repent and reject these lies, they will be manipulated by the father of lies, by the devil himself.
The lies you believe will not only distort the truth, but they will also form your beliefs. If, like Renee, you believe yourself to be a worthless screw-up, then you will have a hard time believing that Jesus died for you. If you believe you are holier than thou, you may have a difficult time forgiving others when they fail. Should you be addicted to money, it may be difficult to justify giving a tithe. When you are selfish, you might hold onto the false belief that you more deserving than others. Lies permeate the devil’s character. Lies also seep into the soul of the non-believer. Worldly lies told by politicians and social groups and even by mistaken parents can be deeply imbedded in your core understandings. Many of the most dangerous lies of the devil may even sound very religious, very faithful, very patriotic, or very true!
Don’t let lies define you! Search your heart and soul for any lie you tell yourself. In order to be a true disciple of God, you will need to face your lies and accept God’s truth. Otherwise, you are doomed to fail God. Otherwise, the devil will own you. Otherwise, you will be a lost soul always searching for peace and wholeness, just like the devil wants you.
Just as these Jewish leaders though they were faithful when in fact they were living a lie, there are many people today (even lifelong Christians!) who think they are being faithful when in fact they are living a lie. They lie to themselves. They do not speak the truth. They believe what is not true. They spread what is false. Christians who distort or outright spread lies instead of the truth are not spreading the gospel or being righteous in any way. They too are “children of the devil”. They too have “no truth in them” (John 8:44).
In John 8:44, Jesus called out these Jewish leaders as liars. They lied to themselves. They did not know the truth and even rejected it. They saw Jesus as evil. They believed the gospel to be untrue. Because they rejected Jesus, they rejected the truth of the gospel. This caused them to be allied with the devil. Then, these people ended up “doing their father’s desires”, the devils desires. Why? Because “there was no truth in the devil” either. Jesus characterized the devil in this verse as “a liar” and “the father of lies”. Satan is a “murderer”. There is “no truth in him”. He lives and breathes lies.
As for you, my beloved reader, don’t be too quick to judge these Jewish leaders. They were very religious people like you. They worshipped our God. They sat in sanctuaries and sang praises. They read their Bible daily. They prayed often. However, they still believed the lies perpetuated by the manipulation of the devil. They did not recognize the lies they believed. All their reading of the Bible and worship was for naught because they lived a lie. Until they accepted God’s truth, they would remain deceived by the devil.
Are there any lies that might be separating you from God? Are you afraid of some bit of truth God needs you to accept? Is there a lie you tell yourself that damages your relationship with Jesus?
Renee is a wonderful mother. She is loved by her husband. She is cherished by her church. However, Renee is living a lie. Inside her heart and soul, Renee feels she is undeserving of forgiveness by God. When Renee was young, she lived in a dysfunctional household. She was punished for the slightest error. If she brought home a “C” on a test, she was punished. If she forgot to do any one of her dozen chores, she was sent to her room without dinner. If she dared question why her parents were doing something, she was beaten. When she made a mistake in her cleaning or homework or actions, she was chastised over and over repeatedly for days. Renee’s parents believed the lie that children should be beaten until they are afraid of you, beaten into submission, beaten until they do anything the parent needs. To this day, Renee carries this fear of failing and lack of forgiveness inside her heart and soul. Beaten into her by her parents, this attitude even pervades and poisons her relationship with God. In her prayers as in her dealings with God, Renee feels like a failure, unworthy, and undeserving of grace.
Renee is a very religious person. But inside, she is living a lie where she does not deserve love and forgiveness and the grace of God. She feels like the only way she can receive the love of God is by doing extra-special things for others. Sadly, she feels the need to earn her grace and forgiveness from God and others, as if this was possible! She feels undeserving of Jesus’ love. When she fails, she tells herself over and over that she is worthless. The lies go deep into her heart and soul and mind.
Unless Renee fully accepts that she is living a lie and accepts the truth of the gospel, she will never really understand salvation. Until she lets go of her self-loathing, she will not be able to see herself as a true child of God.
Many people who sit in the pews on Sunday morning are living with lies. Some lies have been taught to them. Some lies have come from distorting the truth. In any case, the lies they believe damage their relationship with God in Christ. They distort their view of the true gospel. Until they repent and reject these lies, they will be manipulated by the father of lies, by the devil himself.
The lies you believe will not only distort the truth, but they will also form your beliefs. If, like Renee, you believe yourself to be a worthless screw-up, then you will have a hard time believing that Jesus died for you. If you believe you are holier than thou, you may have a difficult time forgiving others when they fail. Should you be addicted to money, it may be difficult to justify giving a tithe. When you are selfish, you might hold onto the false belief that you more deserving than others. Lies permeate the devil’s character. Lies also seep into the soul of the non-believer. Worldly lies told by politicians and social groups and even by mistaken parents can be deeply imbedded in your core understandings. Many of the most dangerous lies of the devil may even sound very religious, very faithful, very patriotic, or very true!
Don’t let lies define you! Search your heart and soul for any lie you tell yourself. In order to be a true disciple of God, you will need to face your lies and accept God’s truth. Otherwise, you are doomed to fail God. Otherwise, the devil will own you. Otherwise, you will be a lost soul always searching for peace and wholeness, just like the devil wants you.