Top X August 5, 2025 Devotional

PROVERBS 12:22 | ²² Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

1 JOHN 1:8-10 | ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Lying and deceit are also spiritually dangerous for us. These behaviors disintegrate us. Our outward selves, with our public words and actions, are divorced from our inner selves. This tension can only be maintained by ongoing public pretense. It can only be relieved by honestly owning our untruthfulness to others and to God. Without this step we will face a dilemma. We can admit our wrongs to ourselves and live with ongoing shame and guilt, or we can deny our wrong and live in perpetual denial of the truth.

In addition to these spiritual impacts, of course, the greatest danger is that lying is hated by God. It makes us a stranger to His truth.

Have you thought about the spiritual dangers of deceit?

Gracious God,

Show me the untruths I tell myself. Expose what is false in me. Create in me a clean heart.

Amen.