“You are of your father the devil, and your will is 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 out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” (John 8:44–45, ESV)
Katherine has been a Christian her whole life. When young, her parents took her to church. At her church’s altar, Katherine was married to a loving man she met at college. Katherine now has one daughter. She has been blessed with a beautiful voice she uses often while singing in the church choir. Katherine wears a cross on her necklace, reads her Bible often, and tells others how much she loves God.
Still, Katherine struggles with her self-perception. When she was five, she was bitten by a dog in the face. That resulted in a major surgery and a large scar across her lower cheek. The scar is visible to others and is a sign from her past that Katherine hates. She uses lots of beauty products to hide that scar. She poses for pictures on the side that hides the scar. Katherine believes that the scar makes her ugly and causes her to stand out in a crowd. She has considered plastic surgery many times, but the cost would be prohibitive. So, Katherine often will not look in the mirror for fear of the ugliness that she will see.
Spiritually, Katherine is unaware of how much of her self-loathing is borne by that large scar. When she was a teenager, she often suffered from depression simply because of her “ugly” looks. When her high school crush noticed the scar, she ended their first date. She cried herself to sleep that night. When Katherine was awarded a college scholarship from her church, she refused to stand in front of the church to be recognized, fearful people would notice her scar. She even prayed to God that she would find a way to hide her scar. She has viewed herself as “that woman with a scar” for as long as she can remember.
Katherine has not come to terms with the fact that her scar does not make her ugly. Her self-loathing makes her ugly. Her distorted self-image has destroyed her self-esteem and the view of her worth. Katherine believes the lie that she is ugly because of her scar. That lie has damaged her view of self, her faith, her friendships, her potential, and her relationship with God.
When you believe a lie, it taints you. It infects your thinking. It corrupts your mind. It distorts your view of yourself and your world. A man who believes himself to be above others will believe the lie that he is entitled to more than others. The woman who believes herself to be smarter than her friends may fall into the lie that she is too smart to be wrong. The politician who believes the lies he tells others to get elected will soon use lies as a part of his manipulation of constituents. The young girl who was sexually assaulted may fall into the lie that she is good for nothing. The young man who has insecurities might drink to excess in order to make him feel more socially accepted. All these people believe lies. Those lies distort their spiritual life and their view of the world.
What lies have you told yourself in order to make yourself feel better?
In the scripture for today, Jesus taught some of the Jews that followed him that while the truth comes from God, lies come straight from the devil. In John 8:44, Jesus described the devil as one who “has no truth in him”. Jesus also calls him not only a “liar” but the “father of lies” (John 8:45). He urged these Jewish people not to fall for this tool of the devil. Instead, Jesus expected godly people to “stand for the truth” and against the devil’s lies.
In the closing words found in John 8:45, Jesus ended by proclaiming that despite his telling of the truth, people will not believe Him. Instead, they will be so enamored by the lies that they will reject the gospel and Jesus. This shows the power and influence of Satan’s lies. People who believe lies will often stick to the lie rather than accept the truth.
When Alcoholics Anonymous people gather, they often talk about the “12 Steps Program”. These twelve steps are a statement of the truths that people need to overcome alcoholism. These twelve steps point out the lies that alcoholics tell themselves and others that keep them imprisoned by addiction. Alcoholics Anonymous believes that the only way to defeat addiction is to face the truth that alcoholics are powerless to defeat alcoholism by sheer will. They need the help of a “higher power”, of God. They have “defects” in their character (and beliefs) that lead them to destructively drink alcohol. They will never get better until they let go of the lies and believe God’s truth.
While God is the “higher power” that helps many recovering alcoholics to face the truth, the devil loves to promote lies. As one Christian leader wrote: “Satan’s power is in the lie. He has no power over you except what you give him when you believe his lies. You break his power when you expose the lie…. Since Satan’s primary weapon is the lie, your defense against him is the truth. Dealing with Satan is not a power encounter; it’s a truth encounter. When you expose Satan’s lie with God’s truth, his power is broken. That’s why Jesus said: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).” (Neil T. Anderson, Daily in Christ)
Look deep into your heart and mind, today. Are there lies that have shaped your view of life? Are there lies you tell yourself in order to deal with the past or the present? Have you fallen for the lies others have taught you? The more lies you believe, the more sway that The Devil will have over you!
Trust in God to show you the truth. Trust in Jesus to separate truth from lies. God Almighty wants you to know the truth that will set you free from The Devil’s manipulations.
Still, Katherine struggles with her self-perception. When she was five, she was bitten by a dog in the face. That resulted in a major surgery and a large scar across her lower cheek. The scar is visible to others and is a sign from her past that Katherine hates. She uses lots of beauty products to hide that scar. She poses for pictures on the side that hides the scar. Katherine believes that the scar makes her ugly and causes her to stand out in a crowd. She has considered plastic surgery many times, but the cost would be prohibitive. So, Katherine often will not look in the mirror for fear of the ugliness that she will see.
Spiritually, Katherine is unaware of how much of her self-loathing is borne by that large scar. When she was a teenager, she often suffered from depression simply because of her “ugly” looks. When her high school crush noticed the scar, she ended their first date. She cried herself to sleep that night. When Katherine was awarded a college scholarship from her church, she refused to stand in front of the church to be recognized, fearful people would notice her scar. She even prayed to God that she would find a way to hide her scar. She has viewed herself as “that woman with a scar” for as long as she can remember.
Katherine has not come to terms with the fact that her scar does not make her ugly. Her self-loathing makes her ugly. Her distorted self-image has destroyed her self-esteem and the view of her worth. Katherine believes the lie that she is ugly because of her scar. That lie has damaged her view of self, her faith, her friendships, her potential, and her relationship with God.
When you believe a lie, it taints you. It infects your thinking. It corrupts your mind. It distorts your view of yourself and your world. A man who believes himself to be above others will believe the lie that he is entitled to more than others. The woman who believes herself to be smarter than her friends may fall into the lie that she is too smart to be wrong. The politician who believes the lies he tells others to get elected will soon use lies as a part of his manipulation of constituents. The young girl who was sexually assaulted may fall into the lie that she is good for nothing. The young man who has insecurities might drink to excess in order to make him feel more socially accepted. All these people believe lies. Those lies distort their spiritual life and their view of the world.
What lies have you told yourself in order to make yourself feel better?
In the scripture for today, Jesus taught some of the Jews that followed him that while the truth comes from God, lies come straight from the devil. In John 8:44, Jesus described the devil as one who “has no truth in him”. Jesus also calls him not only a “liar” but the “father of lies” (John 8:45). He urged these Jewish people not to fall for this tool of the devil. Instead, Jesus expected godly people to “stand for the truth” and against the devil’s lies.
In the closing words found in John 8:45, Jesus ended by proclaiming that despite his telling of the truth, people will not believe Him. Instead, they will be so enamored by the lies that they will reject the gospel and Jesus. This shows the power and influence of Satan’s lies. People who believe lies will often stick to the lie rather than accept the truth.
When Alcoholics Anonymous people gather, they often talk about the “12 Steps Program”. These twelve steps are a statement of the truths that people need to overcome alcoholism. These twelve steps point out the lies that alcoholics tell themselves and others that keep them imprisoned by addiction. Alcoholics Anonymous believes that the only way to defeat addiction is to face the truth that alcoholics are powerless to defeat alcoholism by sheer will. They need the help of a “higher power”, of God. They have “defects” in their character (and beliefs) that lead them to destructively drink alcohol. They will never get better until they let go of the lies and believe God’s truth.
While God is the “higher power” that helps many recovering alcoholics to face the truth, the devil loves to promote lies. As one Christian leader wrote: “Satan’s power is in the lie. He has no power over you except what you give him when you believe his lies. You break his power when you expose the lie…. Since Satan’s primary weapon is the lie, your defense against him is the truth. Dealing with Satan is not a power encounter; it’s a truth encounter. When you expose Satan’s lie with God’s truth, his power is broken. That’s why Jesus said: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).” (Neil T. Anderson, Daily in Christ)
Look deep into your heart and mind, today. Are there lies that have shaped your view of life? Are there lies you tell yourself in order to deal with the past or the present? Have you fallen for the lies others have taught you? The more lies you believe, the more sway that The Devil will have over you!
Trust in God to show you the truth. Trust in Jesus to separate truth from lies. God Almighty wants you to know the truth that will set you free from The Devil’s manipulations.