Colossians 3:9, 10

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator ~ Colossians 3:9, 10

Our tongues speak many words, some may be false yet are believed to be true, so in effect are not lies. The information may be skewed, but the issue is lack of knowledge, not in the telling of a lie. The tongue which speaks words which are voluntary disagreements with the mind and the speech, that tongue speaks a lie because it knows what is said does not match with what is thought. A “little white lie” is still a lie, though we try to say we speak in such a way to protect someone else. When truth is uncovered white lies still cause hurt. Our tongues have many vices and our heart becomes very evident through the words we speak. As “Little Christians” our words are to match our model of Jesus Christ who spoke only truth. I know my words sometimes get the better of me and lead me to speak too quickly, too harshly, too carelessly. This causes division, pain, hurt and then the extra work of bringing about repair. But as the children’s example shows of trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube, words cannot be retracted. They remain in the air, changing the hue of the atmosphere. Jesus spoke truth in every situation, and even though it may have brought initial pain, if the hearer paid attention, it brought about divine healing. Truth can hurt, but it restores unity and friendship. Lies may protect the other, though more often they falsely protect the speaker. Ultimately, lies destroy relationships. Today, watch your words and how they are used. Bring new life from them, not death.