Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5 NIV)
“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Witnesses are asked to take that oath in court. There’s someone who would never agree to it: The devil! Jesus describes him like this, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
The devil loves twisting the truth. Can you see that in how he tempted Eve? He took God’s words, twisted them to change their true meaning, and tried to convince Eve that it was what God had really said.
The greatest dangers to our faith come when people who claim to be speaking for God twist the truth. “God is love, so all lifestyles are acceptable.” “Jesus says not to judge, so you have no right to point out sin.” “Jesus died for everyone, so there’s no way God would ever send someone to hell.” Those sound almost true, don’t they? Can you see how dangerous this is? The devil is still twisting the truth!
Eve knew just what to do. She answered the devil’s first half-truth with the Word of God: “God did say…” Yes! The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit that destroys the devil’s lies. Except, does the devil only tempt us one time? Sadly, no. He came right back to Eve with another twisted lie, and Eve finally gave in and sinned. See how dangerous it is when the devil and others twist God’s Word?
So there’s something we really need to know: The truth! We need God’s Word in our hearts and minds and homes. What could you do to make God’s Word even more a part of your family’s routine? God’s Word is our weapon. It’s our sword. It’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!
Dear Jesus, when the devil tempts me with his twisted lies, make me stand firm in your truth. Amen.
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