{"id":2757,"date":"2012-03-22T01:00:20","date_gmt":"2012-03-22T08:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/?p=2757"},"modified":"2012-03-21T23:34:52","modified_gmt":"2012-03-22T06:34:52","slug":"hope-for-the-liar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2012\/03\/22\/hope-for-the-liar\/","title":{"rendered":"Hope for the Liar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lying comes naturally.<\/strong> We shouldn\u2019t be shocked when our children lie. They\u2019re born with old sin natures, and that\u2019s what old sin natures do. Man has been lying ever since Adam and Eve believed the lies of Satan, the father of lies.<\/p>\n

\"\"Because it is sin, lying should be taken seriously. But we must resist our own temptation to sinfully over-react<\/strong> when our children lie. At best, sinful anger, scolding, or belittling will only tempt the child to lie even more to avoid our wrath. At worst, our sinful responses will provoke him to become bitter and unrepentant.<\/p>\n

Instead of panicking over lies, we should get excited about the opportunity a child\u2019s lie (or any other sin) gives us to point him to Jesus<\/strong>. We should discipline the liar (\u201cWhoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him\u201d <\/em>Proverbs 13:24, ESV). But we shouldn\u2019t fail to give him hope, the hope that only comes from the gospel. We all <\/em>sin. None <\/em>of us is good enough to please God. (. . . “for \u00a0all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” <\/em>Romans 3:23,\u00a0ESV).<\/p>\n

Remind him that God sent His Son to pay the penalty we deserve for our sin. Jesus didn\u2019t lie so that He could pay the penalty for our<\/em> lies. When we put our faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, God declares us righteous. He sees Jesus\u2019 righteousness, not our sinfulness. He gives us new life and the grace and power to obey Him. He helps us to \u201cput away lying\u201d and to speak the truth with those around us (Ephesians 4:25).<\/p>\n

Pray with your child.<\/strong> Thank God for providing His Son to pay for our sins. Thank Him for His grace and the Holy Spirit who will give us strength to obey Him. Thank Him for His love and mercy that freely grants forgiveness when we confess our sins.<\/p>\n

Rejoice with your child!<\/strong> If he has put his trust in Jesus, He has a loving heavenly Father who is eager to show mercy, and a compassionate Savior who is faithful to intercede for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor we do not have a high priest\u00a0 who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been\u00a0 tempted as we are,\u00a0 yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.\u201d <\/em> Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV).<\/p>\n

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