【双语灵修】说谎的人LIAR, LIAR

约翰福音8：42–47

耶稣说：“倘若神是你们的父，你们就必爱我。因为我本是出于神，也是从神而来；并不是由着自己来，乃是他差我来。 你们为什么不明白我的话呢？无非是因你们不能听我的道。 你们是出于你们的父魔鬼，你们父的私欲你们偏要行。他从起初是杀人的，不守真理，因他心里没有真理。他说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。 我将真理告诉你们，你们就因此不信我。 你们中间谁能指证我有罪呢？我既然将真理告诉你们，为什么不信我呢？ 出于神的必听神的话，你们不听，因为你们不是出于神。”

五月十日

说谎的人

“（魔鬼）说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。”— 约翰福音8：44

一个谎话是人类犯罪的开始。在伊甸园的时候，亚当和夏娃相信了撒但的谎话：“你们不一定死，……你们便如神能知道善恶。”（创世记3：4-5）。

自此以后，骗子和谎话之父的声音，便一直不断响起。撒但显然不懂得说实话；谎话是它的母语。在今天，撒但仍然不断重复说类似它在伊甸园中所讲的谎话：“神并不是真的想你得到最好的。”“你若跟从神所定的标准，你便没有任何人生乐趣的了。”“你这样做其实是不会有什么后果的。”

撒但最近对你讲过什么谎话呢？“你看一些色情刊物，其实是没有大碍的。”“如数缴纳税款是愚蠢的，看看政府怎样理财不当吧。”“你理应有一辆新车、一个新的性伴侣、一份较高的薪酬的。”

留意你在想什么。若听从谎话之父，可以成为你陷入罪中的第一步。

这些谎话包括充斥在社交媒体的阴谋论，这些也是在撒但的掌控中。它擅于利用政要人士和媒体红人来推广它的谎话，看到其他人也赞同撒但的谎话，并不应该成为我们相信它的藉口。

我们意念所在的世界，是一个战场。让我们听从这位已经赢了这场战事的主，拒绝那永远不可相信的撒但吧。

祷告

父啊，我们被谎话围绕着，每时每刻都听得到，求你帮助我们辨认和抵挡它们。惟愿我们能够抵挡那说谎话的父。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

John 8:42-47

SUNDAY, MAY 10

LIAR, LIAR

“When [the devil] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” —John 8:44

A lie led to the beginning of human sin. Back in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve accepted Satan’s lie: “You will not certainly die. . . . You will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5).

Ever since then, the voice of the liar, the father of lies, has carried on. Satan apparently can’t speak the truth; lying is his native language. Today Satan keeps telling us versions of the same lies he spoke in Eden: “God doesn’t really want the best for you.” “You will never have any fun if you follow the moral standard set by God.” “You really won’t suffer any consequences for doing that.”

What lies is Satan telling you lately? “It really doesn’t matter if you watch some porn.” “Paying all your taxes would be crazy, given the way the government spends money.” “You deserve a new car, a new sex partner, a higher salary.”

Pay attention to what you are thinking. Listening to the father of lies can be the first step into sinfulness.

These lies include conspiracy theories that flood social media. Satan is in charge of those too. He is quite capable of using politicians and media personalities to promote his lies. The fact that others may agree with Satan is no excuse.

Our thought world is a war zone. Listen to the one who has already won the war. Reject the one who can never be trusted.

Father, we are surrounded by lies. We hear them at every turn. Help us to recognize and reject them. May we reject the father of lies too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.