No lie

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.

– COLOSSIANS 3:9

A college football coach resigned after admitting he falsified his academic and athletic credentials. A career military officer confesses to wearing combat decorations he did not earn. A job applicant acknowledges that her stated experience in "food and beverage oversight" was actually making coffee each morning at the office.

Within each of us is a tendency to embellish the truth in order to impress others. Whether on a job resumé or in casual conversation, exaggeration comes naturally – but we pay a price. Small lies usually grow larger as we try to avoid discovery. Then we wonder how we ever got ourselves into such a predicament.

The Bible says, "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (COLOSSIANS 3:9-10). In other words, if we’ve placed our faith in Jesus as our Savior, lying is inconsistent with what God expects us to be. The antidote to the poison of self-promotion is a growing Christlikeness – a spirit of mercy, kindness, humility, patience forgiveness, and love (vv. 12-14).

If we genuinely care about people, we won’t need to try to impress them at any cost. – DAVE McCASLAND

Lord, help me to please You by telling

the truth,

Being honest in words and in deeds;

And help me to conquer my selfish desires,

To love others and care for their needs.

– FITZHUGH

READ: COLOSSIANS 3:9-17

Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.