The Ten Commandments: Speak The Truth

The Ten Commandments: Speak the Truth

Bible Blast: Read John 14:5-14

You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16

Do you have chores you’re responsible for? Is one of those chores weeding the garden? It can be so annoying because you pull a weed out of the dirt one day and it’s gone, but then you go back just a couple of days later and it’s back again! The only way you can get the weed to stop growing is if you dig down deep enough to get all the roots out of the ground. That’s what happens when you tell a lie. It just keeps growing until you fess up and admit that you lied. Have you ever felt a fib grow?

Today’s commandment tells us one big important instruction: Don’t lie. “Falsely testifying against a neighbor” means that if you’re in a courtroom and have to tell your view of a crime, don’t lie about who did it.

In John 14:6 Jesus describes himself as “the way, the truth, and the life.” He is the truth. When we choose not to speak the truth, we’re choosing not to be like Jesus. And it’s even crazier than that. Look at John 8:44 where Jesus talks about who the devil is, saying, “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Did you catch that? The devil is the father of lies! So when you choose to lie, you’re just doing what the devil does all the time. I don’t want to speak the devil’s language, do you? No way! He’s not my father. The King of all kings is my heavenly Father, and I want to speak like he does. I want to speak truth.

If you have a habit of lying, God will help you break it. Be honest with him, and tell him you have a problem. Ask him to show you when you’re lying, because you might not realize when you do it. Once you see the lies you’re speaking, ask God to help you hate lies and love truth.

Girl Gab: Cut two pieces of yarn or string about eight inches long. Have your mom put one in her pocket, and then you can put the other string in your pocket. Every time you lie today, take the string out of your pocket and tie a knot in it. Your mom can do it too. If at the end of the day you have a pocket full of knots, you may have a problem with lying. Ask God for his help.