4 Minute Devotions: An Old Lie

We all tell lies and have to deal with the consequences. I still am bothered about a lie I told my High School sports coach 35 years ago in Scotland.

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When I was in High School, I belonged to the sprint relay team. It was an honor to be chosen and I loved running around the bends of the 400 meter track. The coach that we had was superb. He was a great encourager and a wonderful teacher. We excelled as a sprint team because of his positive coaching. We all wore gold vests which he gave us, representing the colors of our High School. I cherished mine and kept it, instead of handing it back in at the end of the season. Our coach was so successful, he was promoted as an assistant principal at another school.

The next season a different coach arrived. He was severe and a disciplinarian. He took the joy out of our accomplishments and I eventually left the sprint team. During athletics practice one day, he caught me wearing my cherished gold vest. He grabbed me by the arm and told me to take it off. That’s when I told the lie. I insisted that my mother had purchased me the vest at a sports shop in Glasgow. The coach scrutinized the label and, sure enough, the tag belonged to the shop that I mentioned. He looked me in the eyes and then dismissed me. My lie had me kept me safe. He couldn’t prove it otherwise.

It has been thirty five years since I told that lie and it still bothers me today. I wish that I had told the truth. I wish that I had given back the vest. I wish that I could erase this from my past. I’d even thought about sending money to the school to buy vests for a whole sprint team, but the school was closed and demolished years ago. A subdivision has been built over the running track, so I have to live with my lie.

Hebrews 6:18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

I am so thankful that God never lies. He keeps His Word. He fulfills His promises. He remains faithful to us, even although we are unfaithful to Him. When the Good Book reveals to us that God is forgiving, merciful, and gracious, it really means it. And when Jesus is described as being the Truth, Way, and Life, it’s not a lie. These things encourage me to try to be a Christian. Where I fail, God succeeds. When I am weak, He is strong. When I feel lost, He still guides.

Prayer: Lord God, we all have regrets, make mistakes, and even tell lies. We are sorry for the disappointments we cause and the hurts that we create. Forgive us of all our sins and allow us to begin again. Grant us Your mercy and grace, Your love and compassion. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today's message, send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org

The Look

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Acts 14:9-10 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. (NIV)

I once had a friend who worked as a detective in the Scottish police force. He was trained to observe people during interviews, in order to tell whether or not they were lying. Small movements of the eyes, mouth and hands were general indicators that something was wrong, deceptive or false. For instance, people usually smile when they are lying – not a broad smile, just a mere flicker of a smile. Whenever my friend saw this in the interview room, he recognized a lie. I found that fascinating and promised myself never to play him at poker.

What I also find amazing is Paul’s response to the crippled man in today’s passage. What does he see in the man’s face, eyes, or body that makes the apostle realize that the cripple has enough faith to be healed? Was it a look of desperation or devotion? Was it a glance of expectancy or exhilaration? And does this passage prove that if we don’t have the same kind of faith, we cannot ever be healed? This is a puzzling thing to me and very mysterious. It makes me wish that I had the same gift of discernment as Paul, so that whenever I see anyone with that kind of faith, I can help with their healing.

The look of faith is something that our world desperately needs right now. I mean a genuine look of faith, not some zealous, fanatical, and insanely religious grimace, but a look of hope, kindness, expectancy and compassion. It’s too easy to be religious and severe; it’s far more difficult to be faithful and patient, but that is what our crippled, broken and shattered world needs right now – a look of hope, a look of faith, a look of love.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to see the needs of other people before we focus on our own. Enable us to look for love amongst the lost and to find hope with those who are helpless. Give us compassionate hearts and faithful feelings, so that we may act as real Christians in the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.