Liar! (Part 1)
Ever heard this phrase: “Liar, Liar! Pants on fire!”
It’s a phrase that children like to scream at each other
whenever they think the other is lying.
It’s really a stupid thing to say—because if your pants actually
caught on fire when you lied, more politicians would be dead.
(Ha! I couldn’t resist.)
I did some research, because I wanted to know where this phrase came from. One story tells of a boy who stole his dad’s cigar and ran out to the shed to smoke it. He heard his dad approaching, and he quickly shoved the cigar into the pocket of his pants. When Dad asked if he’d been smoking, he denied it—even though his pants were beginning to burn. Thus, “Liar, Liar, pants on fire!”
But the phrase actually originated from a poem written in 1810 by William Blake titled “The Liar.” The Bible actually has quite a bit to say about liars. But lets just look at what the apostle John has to say about them.
You know he wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and the also the very last book of the Bible—Revelation. In John’s short five-chapter book of 1 John, he describes six types of liars. Let’s look at one of them right now:
#1: People who say they’re Christians but actually walk in darkness.
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth” (1 John 1:6 NIV).
Ephesians 5:6-16 explains the contrast between worldly darkness and Christian light. This passage reminds us that we once were in darkness, but when we committed our lives to Christ, we began living in the light.
But it takes EFFORT to remain walking in the light, doesn’t it?
It takes discipline.
This is why it’s essential to read the Bible consistently
and to pray throughout the day.
Even if you only read the Bible one minute a day, DO IT.
By keeping ourselves in the Word and praying,
God helps us avoid walking in the darkness.
He helps keep us in His light.
So if we say we’re Christians but walk in darkness, we’re lying.
Meet me back here next week, and we’ll continue this thought.
Meanwhile, please pray for me. I’m in Peru right now on my annual international missions trip. I’d love for you to join me next summer when we go to Guatemala. It’s usually the first two weeks of July. Please start praying about it now.
Thoughts?
Game-Changer
Women speak an average of 20,000 words a day while men average
7,000. Knowing this is the average amount of words you’ll use in any
given day, you can decide to use your words to bless people or to
gossip about them. And this decision can be a game-changer!
Make it a point to LISTEN to yourself today.
How are you choosing to use your words?
The Bible has some strong warnings:
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of
judgment for every empty word they have spoken”
(Matthew 12:36 NIV).
Have you ever been part of a conversation that begins like this:
• “What I’m telling you is highly confidential, but you’re my friend and I know I can trust you. . . .”
• “OK, I’m not totally sure about this, but I heard . . .”
• “It’s really none of my business, but here’s what I think about . . .”
These conversation openers are usually a huge forecast of idle wordson their way.
“A good man’s speech reveals the rich treasures within him.
An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and his speech reveals it” (Matthew 12:35 LB).
Wow.
That’s pretty clear, isn’t it?
I want to be part of the solution—not the problem.
So I’m choosing to spread “positive gossip.”
Anytime I can say something good about a situation or a person,
I’m doing it.
You see, we’re either part of the judgment problem,
or we’re consciously choosing to be active in the grace solution.
But we can’t have it both ways.
So choose your words wisely.
It really CAN be a game-changer!
Thoughts?
I’m driving to Cleburne, TX this Sunday morning to begin speaking
Sunday evening through Friday evening at the West Texas District
Family Camp. I’ll be teaching Bible study during the mornings, and I’ll
be preaching in the evenings. I’d love to know your prayers for God’s
anointing are with me.
My annual two-week international missions trip is June 26 to July 9.
We’re headed to Peru. We’re close to $1,000 short on funds. If you’d
like to make a donation to help, I’ll send you a tax receipt for your
files, because I’m a 501 C-3 non-profit ministry. You can make your
check to Susie Shellenberger Ministries and mail it to me at: 3128 N.
Timber Avenue, Bethany, OK 73008. I’ll need to receive it this week
to be able to use for the trip expenses. Will you pray about helping?
The Next Step
Oftentimes we make “knowing God’s will” into something much
harder than it really is. Most of the time, it’s simply taking the next step.
Doing what’s right.
Walking forward.
I think of Moses.
Yes, he’s known for leading God’s chosen people out of the bondage
of Egypt’s slavery, but the scene begins when he was simply
watching sheep for his father-in- law. A nearby bush went up in
flames, and when Moses turned to look, He heard directly from God.
So he took the next step. He did the right thing. He obeyed and
moved forward. The result? He led millions.
And David.
Sure, he went down in history as the giant-killer. But the only reason
he was even near Goliath is simply because he was running an
errand for his dad. Once there, he just did the next thing.
He took another step forward.
He obeyed and later became the Israel’s greatest king.
What about Andrew?
He would never be the leader like his brother, Peter.
He wasn’t good in front of a group, he wasn’t a leader, and he wasn’t
an extrovert. But he loved people. He shined at one-on- one
relationships. And in the midst of thousands of hungry people,
Andrew made friends with one little boy.
When Jesus instructed the disciples to feed the thousands, Andrew
simply did the next thing. He took another step. He brought his new
friend to Jesus. And Jesus took a few fish and some bread and
produced the greatest food delivery service in history.
Then there’s Peter.
He and his fishing crew had been out all night, but their nets were still
empty. Jesus entered the scene and challenged them to fish a
different way. Peter obeyed. He took the next step. He tossed his net
on the other side of the boat and pulled in a haul so great, he madehistory with it.
But do you think when he slid into his sandals that morning and
pulled his tunic over his body he had any idea that this was the day
he’d be drafted by the Messiah to join Team Jesus and turn the world
on end with Christianity? Do you think any of Peter’s fishing crew
even imagined they’d write parts of the Bible and launch the church?
They all just took the next step.
They did what was right.
They simply obeyed.
Instead of wringing your hands trying to figure out God’s will, why not
simply take the next step?
Do what’s right.
Keep walking in obedience to His Lordship.
This is His will.
The rest of the plan will unfold in His perfect timing.
Thoughts?
I’m not speaking this weekend. I’m home and will be attending my
home church this Sunday. Will you pray for my annual missions trip?
It’s coming up June 26-July 9. We’ll be serving in Peru. I’m taking 125
with me. We’re a bit short on funds. If you’d be willing to help
financially, please consider writing a check to Susie Shellenberger
Ministries. You can send it to me at:
3128 N. Timber Avenue,
Bethany, OK 73008. I’ll send you a tax receipt because I’m a 501 C-3.
Anything you can do will help a LOT!