Jeremiah 9:2-11

2 Oh, that I had in the wilderness
A lodging place for travelers;
That I might leave my people,
And go from them!
For they are all adulterers,
An assembly of treacherous men.
3 “And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies.
They are not valiant for the truth on the earth.
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” says the LORD.
4 “Everyone take heed to his neighbor,
And do not trust any brother;
For every brother will utterly supplant,
And every neighbor will walk with slanderers.
5 Everyone will deceive his neighbor,
And will not speak the truth;
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They weary themselves to commit iniquity.
6 Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the LORD.
7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts:
“Behold, I will refine them and try them;
For how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?
8 Their tongue is an arrow shot out;
It speaks deceit;
One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth,
But in his heart he lies in wait.
9 Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the LORD.
“Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?”
10 I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains,
And for the dwelling places of the wilderness a lamentation,
Because they are burned up,
So that no one can pass through;
Nor can men hear the voice of the cattle.
Both the birds of the heavens and the beasts have fled;
They are gone.
11 “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a den of jackals.
I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.”
Jeremiah 9:2-11 NKJV

One of the major sins in Jeremiah's day is also one of the main sins we see today. Dishonesty. Sin on this earth began with the serpent lying to Eve in Eden and all sin is abetted and supported by dishonesty. We lie to God and we lie to our families and neighbors and we lie to the authorities and to strangers. We even lie to ourselves, or perhaps we lie the most to ourselves. It is not hard to imagine that if everyone tells the truth then trustful relationships would be possible and preferred to the distrust that most operate under today. Honesty and integrity in all aspects of ones life are to be desired, and when it is trusted that someone else has these qualities, then it is possible to can rely on them in all circumstances. Unfortunately, we have learned that most people are willing to lie when they think it is in their best interests to do so, and they often think a lie is best for them. Therefore we do not trust each other. Many even seem to take pride in their ability to deceive others and trick and scam to get the things they want or to avoid the consequences of the mistakes they make. Jesus said "I am the truth" and Deuteronomy 32:4 says that God is "A God of truth and without injustice". When we choose to be dishonest and deceitful and walk among slanderers and dwell in the midst of deceit, we cut ourselves off from God. In God is truth, away from God are lies. Lies are not acceptable in God's presence, His glory will burn the lies and that which embraces them. Jeremiah warned that no one could trust their brother or their neighbor, because they only spoke lies and deceit. The Lord said He would try them and refine them, their lies would be consumed by the truth in His judgment, and they would be punished for their lies. So too will all men be accountable for their dishonesty. I can be honest and speak truth as I wish others would speak truth to me, or I can walk in the tangled webs of deceit and lies as far too many do with eternal destruction as my reward. God makes it clear that only those who are in the truth and who speak truth will be able to accept His salvation. In Jeremiah's day everyone spoke lies and lived in deceit, I can today choose to walk in truth and speak truth.

Lord,
Help me today to be honest in all my words and actions. Help me to speak truth and help me to listen and understand the truth You speak to me. Lies seem to come naturally to my mind as I think I will gain something from them. Take these lies away from my thoughts and replace them with the truth and give me integrity to follow your example in being honest in all things.