February 13
JOHN 8
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 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. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” – John 8:39-47
JOHN 8 WHEN YOU BELIEVE LIES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
The devil is the source of all deceptions and lies
If you believe his lies, you will surely die
Because he is the father of lies, there is no truth in him
So, when you follow his mindsets, you will always sin
If you believe lies, you won’t hear the word of the Lord
Because you will be held captive by the system of the world.
It is sad that many people cannot distinguish a lie from truth. Because the world system has penetrated our thinking and because we do not really hunger for truth that only comes in God’s word, the devil has a big playground in our minds to twist and give us half truths just like he did in the Garden of Eden when he enticed Adam and Eve.
Jesus was telling the Jewish leaders that because their father is the devil who is the father of all lies, they were unable to hear the truth and believe that he comes from the Father up above. They can’t hear because they do not belong to God.
REFLECTION
• How do we discern lies from the truth? In what form do lies hide?
