Daily Devotional: Do Not Lie to One Another — Colossians 3:9

When the Apostle Paul exhorted the Christians in Colossae, he was addressing believers who had put on the new self in Christ. He wrote, “Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its practices” (Colossians 3:9). This command is rooted in the believer’s transformation through Christ. The Christian life is not merely a reformation of habits but a putting off of the old sinful nature and the putting on of the new life that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the Creator.

The sin of lying is not trivial. From the beginning, lying has been associated with Satan, who is described by Jesus as “a liar and the father of the lie” (John 8:44). Deception was the very tool the Devil used in Eden to bring about the downfall of mankind. Thus, every lie reflects his influence. Christians, who are called to truth, are to resist any form of dishonesty, whether in word, deed, or even the concealment of facts meant to mislead.

Paul makes it clear that lying is not compatible with the new nature of a Christian. The old self, corrupted by sin, thrives on self-preservation, selfish gain, and the manipulation of others. But the new self in Christ reflects honesty, integrity, and transparency because it is patterned after God, Who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). To lie to another believer is to undermine the unity and trust of the body of Christ. When trust is broken, fellowship suffers, and Satan gains an advantage within the congregation.

The seriousness of lying is evident throughout Scripture. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “a lying tongue” among the things Jehovah hates, along with “a false witness who breathes out lies.” Revelation 21:8 warns that “all liars” will have their portion in the second death, in Gehenna. This underscores that dishonesty is not a small matter; it is a practice that, if unrepented of, excludes one from the Kingdom of God.

To live truthfully requires more than simply avoiding direct lies. It calls for sincerity in our relationships, transparency in our dealings, and reliability in our speech. Paul’s reminder in Ephesians 4:25 is parallel: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” This truth-telling builds trust, strengthens the bond of unity, and reflects the character of Christ, Who Himself is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

A Christian must continually examine his or her speech and conduct. Do our words exaggerate or mislead? Do we withhold information to gain advantage? Do we present ourselves in a false light to impress others? Each of these is a form of lying that erodes our Christlike witness. Instead, believers are called to cultivate honesty as a daily habit, knowing that “the integrity of the upright guides them” (Proverbs 11:3).

Ultimately, lying is incompatible with the holiness to which God calls His people. The Christian’s new identity is founded upon the truth of the gospel, and the God Who saved us is the God of truth. To walk in truth is to align with His nature and to bear witness to His righteousness before a world that is steeped in deception.

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