Another version states, "For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers." (TLB)
The Dangers of a Lying Tongue.
Proverbs 12:19 states, "Lies last only a moment, but the truth lasts forever." (ERV)
I am sure many of us have heard the quote- it takes years to establish trust, but only seconds to destroy that trust.
Lying breeds an atmosphere of destruction- especially when it comes to trust.
I read a quote that stated, "One lie is enough to question all truths" and I couldn't help but see how true this is.
The first time someone lies to you, you start thinking, 'I wonder how many other things they have lied about? Omitted?" It is a vicious cycle that could be solved with one thing: complete honesty.
Not only does lying breed a lack of trust, but lying also breeds the destruction of other people's lives. We have to be so careful the words we speak with our tongues-- we are not just speaking words in to the atmosphere, we are affecting the lives of others as well.
The Destruction of Other People's Lives.
Proverbs 26:28 states, "You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin." (GNT)
If we use our lies to hurt other people, the Bible says we must have some sort of hatred in our hearts.
Proverbs 10:12 says, "Hatred causes arguments, but love overlooks all wrongs." (ERV)
When we feel that bitterness-- that frustration-- that anger-- building up inside of us toward someone else, we need to start praying in that moment. We must pray for our spirit, our soul, our feelings, our emotions, our actions, and our mouths. What we speak in that instant could affect our entire life as well as the life of others. Do we want to be the person that tears others down or do we want to be the people known for lifting others up? The choice is ours.
Hatred stewing in our hearts only lays a foundation of evil.
Lies will proceed out of our mouths.
Gossip will become candy to our ears.
Bitterness will eat us alive.
Proverbs 10:18 states, "Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander." (MSG)
Liars secretly hoard hatred.
But God can heal our hearts. He can heal that anger. We don't have to give in to it. We don't have to speak words of hurt- words of evil.
The Destruction of Our Lives.
Psalms 52:3 says, "You love evil instead of good. You would rather lie than tell the truth" (NIRV)
Do we want this to be what God Almighty says about us? Do we want Him to look at our lives and think, 'She would rather lie than speak the truth.' 'She loves evil instead of following my commandments and loving goodness!'
I know I don't want that to be what my Savior thinks of me...
And I know He doesn't want us to destroy our own lives, our spirits through a lying tongue.
We are called to work out our own salvation.. and part of that salvation is protecting our own eyes, ears, mouths, and bodies from all appearances of evil. (Philippians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:22)
Works of the Flesh.
In Galatians chapter 5, Paul writes about the works of the flesh.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Another version states, "But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (TLB)
Hatred. Wrath. Strife. Fighting. Jealousy. Anger.
These are works of the flesh that we must crucify daily.
We are humans-- God does not expect perfection from us-- but He does want us to recognize how dangerous these are to our lives and the lives of others and He wants us to pray over them and work hard at not allowing them to rule our lives.
All of these works of the flesh lead to turmoil.
Turmoil for our souls.
Turmoil in our families.
Turmoil in our relationships.
Jesus, help us.
Turmoil in our families.
Turmoil in our relationships.
Jesus, help us.
God let this be our prayer:
Psalms 119:29, "Turn me away from a life of lies. Graciously provide me with your teachings."
Psalms 120:2, "“Deliver my life, O Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”
Teach us how to hold our tongue, Lord. Teach us to speak the truth. Teach us to not want to hurt others. Turn us away from a life of lies.
It is up to us to be mindful of how we are using our mouths-- what are the words we are speaking today???? How do they define our character? Are we tearing people down with them? Are we allowing hatred to fill our hearts? Are we spewing evil?
The choice is ours.
We can submit to Jesus and speak life.
Or we can submit to our human nature and speak lies.
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