Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 3:9-10

There is a three-letter word that is generally avoided. It’s sometimes uncomfortable to express truth, so we go to great lengths often to find another more palatable term for the verb “lie.” Instead, we deceive, exaggerate, fib, tell only white lies, and generally avoid telling the truth whenever a lie is more comfortable (at least in the moment). Some call it “spin”, but even though lies do great harm, it is what human beings do. 

Recently, news accounts have revealed public examples of those who have falsified a claim. We’ve seen it in sports and on both sides of the political aisle and somehow, some are perceived to be less important than others, but are they?

Think of a time when you’ve told a lie or you’ve been told a lie. How have you responded? How has the lie affected your relationships?

I’ve been on both sides of the equation and in either scenario, lies destroy trust. Lies create doubt about truthfulness when we are left to evaluate what is true. 

In the verses above, Paul compels us to do two things in one simple sentence. First, we are not to lie to each other and so, if we do not lie, we are instead truthful.

So, as we consciously put off the old and put on the new, think about the interactions we will have today and let each of us determine to be truthful.