The second half of verse 6 in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 focuses on the happiness that truth in love can bring. We are taught from a very young age that being untruthful is wrong. Telling our parents a lie was never acceptable. All of us have been caught in a lie and know the feeling of shame and regret that it instantly brings. So why do many of us continually lie to ourselves?
I have become an expert liar when it comes to my internal dialogue. I will tell myself that I weigh too much to go out and have fun at the amusement park. I will tell myself that I am not smart enough to talk to others about my faith. I will tell myself that I am not worthy of love, so I close myself off to friends and family. I tell myself that I am not good enough to receive God’s salvation. I’m too fat, I’m too ugly, I’m too stupid, I’m not good enough…. You may have said the same things to yourself. All of these are lies and are not from God.
The true love from God in 1 Corinthians is patient, kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, and it does not delight in evil. Love rejoices in the truth! Our truth in Christ is that we are made new. That internal dialogue telling us the lie that we are not worthy of love is not something that brings us joy. There is no rejoicing in a lie. The only one that rejoices in a lie is the devil.
In John 8:44, it speaks of the devil as, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The devil wants nothing more in this life than for you to listen to him, for you to believe him and not trust that what God tells us is truth. The Devil’s native language is lies, meaning everything that come out of his mouth is a lie.
When we accept Christ into our lives as our Savior, it is another blow to the devil. Everything about God is love. Everything about Satan is a lie. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them.” 1 John 4:16. When we rely on the love God has for us, the lies we tell ourselves will stop. Fully believing in God’s love and trusting in his truth will drive the devil out of our lives.
I read a quote, and I am unsure of who said it first, but it is worth repeating for sure! “God did not put your beautiful soul on this planet so that you could listen to the enemy in your mind tell you that you aren’t good enough.” Your soul is beautiful, everything about you is beautiful and has been made perfect in Christ. There is no room for the devil’s lies in your life. You are made in the image of God, not the image of Satan.
So rejoice in truth! Rejoice knowing that God has set you free from all the negative internal dialogue you have. Loving yourself does not include telling yourself that you are unworthy of anything. True love will drive out all of the devil’s lies that he allows you to tell yourself. Learn to lean on the true love of God.
This week’s recipe is a yummy, healthy summer treat that everyone will love. Even kids will love eating this “dessert.” It’s a delicious, frozen yogurt and berry treat, perfect for these hot summer days.
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” I John 4:16
April 6, 2024
