Don't Live a Lie

Don't Live a Lie

Have you ever felt like a fraud? It's rather disquieting, knowing that who people think you are isn't who you really are; that they'd be horrified to know the doubts, the dark thoughts, swilling around inside you. Twentieth-century American Ferdinand Waldo Demara became known as the "Great Impostor", posing as a monk, psychologist, prison warden, and even a naval surgeon — all without qualifications. During the Korean War, he performed major surgeries aboard a Canadian warship by memorising medical textbooks the night before. Publicly, he was praised as a heroic doctor saving lives. But behind the scenes, it was all a lie. He said he wanted to "serve humanity," yet he consistently deceived institutions and individuals, often endangering lives. His charm masked a deep dishonesty. Though he claimed noble intentions, his life became a study in false righteousness — appearing good, but built on fraud. Prays the psalmist … Psalm 119:29-32 Don't let me live a lie. Guide me with your teachings. I have chosen to be loyal to you. I respect your laws. I follow your rules closely, LORD. Don't let me be put to shame. I do my best to follow your commands, because you are the one who gives me the desire. "Following rules" isn't the most popular thing in the world these days. And yet, the more you let the Word of God impact you, the more you allow His goodness to be your guide, let me tell you, the less of a fraud you end up being. And in the end, it ain't all that difficult because, more and more, God is the one who gives you that desire. Don't live a lie. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Who is Jesus to You?

It's a fact of life that the true nature of prominent people's character is frequently misrepresented in the media. There's their public persona – who the media spins them to be for good or bad – and then there's who they really are. And in a world where disinformation has become de rigueur, who really knows? That's not, by any means, a new problem. When Jesus landed on the scene back in the 1st Century, He caused quite a stir. As a consequence, there was an awful lot of confusion about who He truly was. Matthew 16:13-16 Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. He said to his followers, "Who do people say I am?" They answered, "Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And some say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Then Jesus said to his followers, "And who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Now, Caesarea Philippi was a pagan region known for its worship of any number of deities. It provides a powerful backdrop, in the shadow of idols and Rome's imperial rule, for Jesus to ask the ultimate question, Who do you say I am? People had all sorts of messianic expectations — prophet, revolutionary, miracle worker. But Jesus probes deeper to draw out His disciples' personal convictions, not hearsay. Peter's answer - You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God - isn't merely intellectual. As Jesus Himself later affirms, it's Spirit-revealed truth. True faith is a gift and a revelation. In today's culture of conflicting voices and false gods, set against the dark backdrop of decaying morality and ever-growing divisiveness, true faith is built on this confession: that Jesus is the Saviour of the world. The only Saviour of the world. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Kiss the Wave That Throws You

According to surveys, somewhere between half and three-quarters of all people pray in times of personal crisis - be they believers or not. What does that tell you? Personally, I've seen too many powerful answers to prayer to leave things until I hit a crisis - not to mention the peace and joy that come from praying. But from time to time we all face crises that have us shaking in our boots, that break our hearts and send tears rolling down our cheeks. But in the midst of all that, for me and for countless others who've put their trust in this Jesus who died and rose again for them, there's an exquisite peace amidst the storm that comes from knowing that come what may … God is with us. Here it is, as King David prays: Psalm 56:8-9 You know I am very upset. You know how much I have cried. Surely you have kept an account of all my tears. I know that when l call for help, my enemies will turn and run. I know that because God is with me! Emotional turmoil, yet faith. Tears, yet confidence. Renowned nineteenth-century English preacher Charles Spurgeon knew deep suffering and depression, and yet clung fiercely to God's nearness: "I have learned," he said, "to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." That's raw. Honest. He doesn't deny the wave — the pain, the tears — but he sees in that very suffering the hand of a faithful God drawing him nearer. No matter your turmoil, your tears, your pain … God is with you! That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Conduct Your Affairs with Justice

Is it just me, or is the world becoming more cut-throat? How often do you see large lending institutions portray themselves with warm, fluffy, family-oriented images in their advertising in order to attract new customers? But then, the first time someone's struggling to make their repayments, they sell their house from underneath them. And hey, it's not just the banks. Okay, a hypothetical … let's imagine a cutthroat industry — say, tech finance — where everyone's playing the angles. Interest rates are dynamic, contracts are airtight, and the fine print is where the real profits lie. But there's one firm that operates differently. Quietly. Doesn't spike rates on vulnerable clients. Doesn't squeeze the little guy. Instead, it offers fair terms. Extends grace. Eats the occasional loss. Builds trust. The other guys laugh and say, "Nice guys finish bankrupt." Then comes the crash. Markets nose-dive. Credit dries up. Clients default. And the sharks? They panic. Everyone's out for themselves — suing, ghosting, collapsing. But here's the twist: that one firm? The one that showed mercy? It's the one clients run towards. Because in the dark, people remember who had the light. Psalm 112:4-5 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. (NIV) Sure, sometimes things are tough, and the temptation always is to play things to your own advantage: To tell the odd white lie. To be economical with the truth with the intention to deceive. Why not? Who's going to notice? But whatever your space, whatever your gig happens to be, conduct your affairs with justice because …good will come to those who are generous and lend freely That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Calm the Storm Before It Begins

As the storms of division rage ever more violently across society, do you ever feel that everyone's talking but no one's listening? And, let's be honest, have you ever found yourself doing the very same thing? Sometimes, the only reason we shut up is to think of what to say next, not to listen, not to try to understand what the other person's saying. Guilty as charged, eh? Jane Addams was a pioneer of social reform and peacebuilding in Chicago during the late 19th and early 20th centuries - building bridges between the wealthy and the poor. At a time of intense labour unrest and class conflict, she chose not to take sides immediately. Instead, she sat with both industrial workers and wealthy business leaders, listening intently, even when both sides distrusted her. She believed that deep, genuine listening could break cycles of violence and resentment. Though she couldn't stop all the violence, her approach brought healing and lasting change in local communities. She became a peacemaker by being slow to speak and quick to listen, helping people feel seen, heard, and human. James 1:19-20 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. (NRSV) It's not rocket science, is it? As clinical psychologist and author, Dr Henry Cloud points out, so many conflicts go away when someone feels heard. Which is why listening can calm the storm before it even begins. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger … because no amount of anger will ever give you the right result. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.