Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at John 8: 43-45: 

43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44 You are from your father the devil, and you choose 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 according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

One of my friends used to always pick with me, whatever passage I reading at that moment was always my favorite.  And he wasn’t wrong.  That said yesterday’s passage showing us the difference between “sins” and “sinful” was so important.  But’s today’s maybe even more important.  

Today, we see Jesus talking to the religious leaders.  As you know Jesus has faced a lot of opposition from them.  Today, He finally just tells them, that due to their blindness and hardness of heart, and continual objection to His teaching, they are just like their father.  The devil.  They lie as he lies. 

He is a liar.  He is the father of all lies.  

Friends, you need to understand this fact deep in the core of your being.  The devil is a liar.  That means that everything that he does, everything that he touches is a lie.  

That means, and this is so key, temptation is a lie.  Temptation promises us joy and fun and pleasure and all kinds of great things.  Temptation will not give you any of these things.  Temptation will destroy you. It will kill you.  It will take everything from you. 

Jesus tells us a few chapters from here that the thief comes to rob, to kill, and to destroy.  That is what the devil longs to do to me and to you.  To rob us, kill us, and destroy us.  

Temptation is a lie.  It promises us life but gives us death.  Do not believe it, do not accept it do not think that it is anything other than that.  The devil is a liar; tempation is a lie. 

Once we understand that truth, it makes it so much easier to resist it.  Today, let this truth plunge deep down within you.  The devil is a liar.  Temptation is a lie.  

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