What about liars?

It is one thing to forget what happened, say so and try to remember it, and quite another thing to pretend you remember, inventing a story and even telling yourself that version is true. Some do that and eventually believe that made-up story — and few can tell that they do not know or cannot remember what is true.

One person who does this is mentally ill, telling lies without awareness. Another has a form of dementia that either cannot acknowledge forgetfulness or is not aware of it. A third person is proud, continually justifying shortcomings with small and sometimes large lies. Some lie to win or gain and become very good at it, almost undetectable.

I have a very hard time with lies. Satan is the author of lies. His lies are terribly destructive. When someone tells a whopper and knows it, that seems a little easier to take than a lie is deliberate and designed to deceive. The worst-case scenario is when the lying person is confronted and digs himself deeper with more lies. Satan is behind much of this, intending to destroy truth and goodness.

Something happened in the church at Corinth that gives a few clues on how to deal with people who are hung up on a sin (lying is one of them) that is ruining their life and relationships with others. Paul wrote to them about it:

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:1–5)

This man was trapped by his sin, not lying but it could have been part of his problem. Paul was concerned about him, but even more concerned about the way the rest of this congregation was dealing with it. They weren’t. It appears they decided to look the other way and be proud of tolerating what he was doing. Perhaps they though that ‘Christian love’ was like that.

Instead, Paul told them to put the man out of their midst and “deliver” him to the enemy. In some way this was going to totally ruin the fleshy and sinful root of the problem and bring that man back into a right relationship with God and others so he could live a godly life. While the Bible does not tell how to do this, this is mentioned elsewhere.

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he (Job) is in your hand; only spare his life.” (Job 2:6)

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:18–20)

Job was a good man whose faith was tested by God who allowed Satan to take away His blessings on Job’s life to see if he still trusted God. On the other hand, the two men Paul wrote to Timothy about had rejected a life of faith and keeping their conscience clear. Paul delivered them to Satan so they would learn not to slander God and speak against all that is important to Him. The Bible does not describe how this happens.

However, this must be one of the most extreme measures of discipline in the Bible. Is it reserved only for those who have refused all other means of restoration? Had the man in Corinth been confronted by friends, his church family? Had he rejected their godly advice and admonition? Had the two men Paul spoke of been counseled and cared about? It seems so. It also seems that Paul knew Satan would take them farther into disobedience and that the consequences would teach them to honor God.

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Lord, I asked You this morning about the people who lie, and You gave me this surprising answer. I’m to be quiet and leave this alone. Gentle reprimand does not work. Neither does stronger admonition, or anything that normally causes a positive response. I need to give this not only to You but allow the enemy to do whatever he does to bring to the end of that behavior those who trouble me with lies. It may not be pretty, but if this is what You want and use it to that end, it will be worth it. I’m trusting You. Keep me in that place of prayer and trust!

Ambition and Abiding

1 Chronicles 11:1–47, 1 Timothy 6:3–10, Psalm 80:1–19

The Bible says much about ambition and motivation. It is okay to want great things, but not for my glory. Whether I eat or drink or whatever I do, it is to be for God’s glory. I’ve learned that nothing I do will gain the same kind of success or satisfaction as whatever is done in the power and grace of God.

In the Old Testament, this power is described in several ways. Often the Bible writers talk about it as God being “with” His people. It also speaks of God as restoring His people in a literal sense, and letting His face “shine upon” them in a poetic sense.

When Saul died in battle, Israel anointed David as their king. He’d already been appointed and anointed by the prophet Samuel, but David would not usurp Saul out of respect for him as the “Lord’s anointed.” David’s attitude was one of humility and faith. After he became king, “David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.” (1 Chronicles 11:9)

The biblical path to greatness is never about striving or personal ambition. It is always about trust in God, even contentment, all the while maintaining a close walk with Jesus Christ.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:6–10)

These are good reminders for me. For years, I wanted great things, but my motives were about me, not God. I wanted to prove myself, be the best, and so on. Now I’m contented to wait on the Lord. People continue to ask me what I will do now that I’ve graduated, but I have no plan. Ideas pop into mind, yet I’m not going there unless the Lord gives direction. I’ve learned that craving my own way, whether it is about money, possessions, popularity, or power, will lead me away from God and into sorrow.

In Exodus, the people of God were enslaved in Egypt, a very real experience that depicts bondage to sin. God rescued them, but they continually turned from Him to idols. Every time that happened, the Lord disciplined them, sometimes by plagues or natural disasters, but often by enemy attack. The psalmist describes this in poetic language, asking God why He allows such attacks:

“You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River. Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.” (Psalm 80:8–13)

His discipline, painful as it was and still is, is effective. God’s people cry out, “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:19) They learned, as I have learned, that having the face of God shine on me is a far greater joy than anything I might crave or have ambition for. Gain is not about stuff or power or popularity. It is learning to rely on God all the time, and then to remain in His will and contentedly abide in Jesus.

Eating without sinning

Almost every evening and immediately after a good supper, I feel extremely hungry. My stomach is full, so I know this is not legitimate hunger. However, at times it feels like starvation.

About one week out of a month, it gets the best of me. Since I’m too old for hormonal cycles, I’ve been investigating. No answer has helped except the ideas given in a book called Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick. She suggests that some people crave the satisfaction that comes from eating so much so that it becomes a snare. It is also a sin because I claim God as my resource for joy and satisfaction, not food. To deny that and replace Him with food is idolatry.

This revelation helps. I’m confessing my cravings for what they are and have been able to resist, now that I see the sin side of them. However, this has not made them go away. The following verses describe some of my thoughts in this battle as God works to change the way that I think about food.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (Hebrews 12:3–10)

Jesus hung on a cross when He could have come down and saved Himself. He resisted that temptation because His death was the Father’s plan. He said, “Not my will, but thine be done.” I’ve not resisted food cravings to that point, nor will that ever happen. I am encouraged by the commitment of my Savior.

I’m also encouraged that this discipline from God is also a mark of being a Christian. For those who never experience His chastening or His command to be self-controlled, there is no assurance that they are His children. God disciplines me because He loves me. This is for my good. It may be about health and good habits, but it is more about being able to say no to sin and yes to whatever He asks. If He says “Eat” then I eat. If He says “Don’t eat” then I won’t eat. This is mostly about obedience, not food.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:11–13)

Yea, I can relate to the painful rather than pleasant part, but also to the peaceful fruit of righteousness part. I have been to several “lots of food” events and ate only what I knew was right for me. This put great joy in my heart and gave me more confidence in other areas of obedience. I never realized how much sin destroys both until this war with food cravings. I’m also realizing that being concerned about losing weight or being healthy is not as important as being determined to please God. If I need those other benefits, He will bless me with them. For now, the focus is obedience.

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Father, I am thankful to be Your child, even Your child who needs discipline. Each area of my life belongs to You. I am delighted that You care about every part of who I am and what I do. Eating is such an ordinary activity, but even in that there is temptation or the threat of obedience. You say, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and I say, “Amen!”