And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  And they cast lots to divide his garments.  Luke 23:34

 One of the biggest betrayals is discovering that we’ve been lied to.  Lies have a way of ripping the ground from beneath us and bringing us down.

A family friend reprimanded me as a child on a regular basis because she perceived that I didn’t trust people. That was simply not true. I did trust some people.  Just not her.  I knew that this adult in particular was untrustworthy and she was someone who lied constantly.  While painful, this was great training because, now, I can usually spot a lie or an ulterior motive a mile away.

This school of hard knocks also taught me how to spot a red herring.  In the field of communications a ‘red herring’ is an argument or event meant to distract people from a greater truth.  One of my professors in college said, “It’s called a red herring because it stinks!” While a humorous description, it does paint picture of dishonesty effectively.

Now for the part that hurts.  Finding out that we’ve been lied to makes us doubt ourselves and everything that we’ve ever believed in.  We think, “Well, if this is not true, then what else has been a lie?”  Deception erodes relationships, destroys churches, and sometimes changes people forever.

What do I do if I find out that I’ve been lied to?  I do have options.  I can become bitter and angry.  (I’ve totally been there and it took me a long time to break free.)  Or, I can brush the pain under the rug and not deal with how much it hurts.  But neither scenario ends in a forgiveness that brings the freedom Jesus promises.  Both leave us as mere shells of the people that God meant us to be.  So here’s the good option.  Be willing to feel the pain.  We can because we aren’t alone in it.  Jesus was sent to the cross because of lies.  His yoke is easy and we can rest in Him because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  King Jesus came to liberate us and He is the only one that can set us free.

Heavenly Father, I know the pain of being lied to.  People have let me down.  You’ve taught me to recognize that I battle sin as much as they do, even if it doesn’t look the same.  And You have forgiven me even though I hurt You.  So help me forgive deceivers because, “they know not what they do.”  In Jesus Precious Name, Amen

Journal

How was Jesus betrayed?

What was His response?

Jesus forgave Peter for lying about knowing Him.  How did forgiveness change Peter?

How has Jesus forgiven you?