Daily
Devotional

I have always wanted to be called for jury duty. When I hear about others being called, it makes me curious as to why I have never received a notice in the mail telling me that my services are required. My husband, who is not even a United States citizen, has received a notice and had to decline because he was not eligible. And there is a lady in our church family who gets a notice almost every year. But not me!

When someone is involved in court proceedings, either as a witness, a lawyer, or even a juror, that person is expected to tell the truth. The courts do not just leave this up to supposition; they have everyone promise to tell the truth. Once the trial is underway, the truth may sometimes seem illusive as the accused and the accuser try to sway the jury to see things their ways. Witnesses have to make a choice: they can tell the entire truth, a partial truth, or just completely lie about what happened. However, there is only one truth in the situation.

In our Christian walks, we also have a choice to make—whether or not we will be truthful in all actions and words. Charles Finney, a noted evangelist of the 1800s, once said, “Understand now what lying is. Any form of designed deception. If the deception be not designed, it is not lying. But if you design to make an impression contrary to the naked truth, you lie.” This explanation helps us understand that a lie “designed,” so it is not something we can do accidentally. Secondly, a lie is a “deception.” It is meant to trick someone, which means that simplifying information for practical reasons does not fall into this category. Finally, Finny said a lie is “any form of designed deception,” indicating lies are not always what we say; sometimes, they are what we intentionally do not say.  

When I read this statement several years ago, it took me by surprise and caused me to evaluate my statements more carefully. Now when I retell a story, I am careful to speak only the facts as best I can remember them. When asked a question, I do not present the inquirer with unnecessary details, but I try not to leave that person with a false impression either. Of course, in situations where sharing the truth will hurt someone, diplomacy and compassion are needed to “speak the truth in love.”

As parents, we try to teach the concepts of truth and lying to our children. More than once, I have told my children, “Jesus knows if you are telling the truth,” when I have doubted their truthfulness in a matter. One of them asked me if Jesus lets me know when they do not tell the truth! I have even overheard them telling each other, “Jesus knows if you are telling the truth!” We may convince those around us of an untruth, but we certainly will not fool the Lord.

We live in a society where lying is commonplace. Can we challenge ourselves to tell nothing but the truth? That is what God requires, and when we meet God’s requirements, blessings are sure to follow!