Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:25-28
When I was about ten, I attended a Billy Graham crusade with my father and brother. I went forward and publicly confessed Christ as my Savior. Although I believe I came to know the Lord at that point – I really didn’t start to live for Him. I went through two divorces and a long siege of alcohol and drug abuse.
Then at the age of thirty-five or so, I rededicated my life to the Lord, and my life changed dramatically.
Eventually, I was invited to deer hunt with a group of Christians. My close friend, Steve, had an antlerless permit and requested that no one make an attempt to fill it for him until late in the day. However, soon after sunrise two doe paraded past my stand and, despite Steve’s desire to fill his own tag, I made the decision to fill it for him.
A short time later Steve showed up. He had heard the shot and hoped I had a deer. I struggled with how to tell him that I had shot a doe. A doe that now desperately needed his antlerless tag! Thus the lie: Steve, you wouldn’t believe it! A buck and a doe came out and stood side by side in front of me. My shot missed the buck and dropped the doe!”
Steve was excited for me anyway and helped drag the deer out. Later that morning a significant amount of time was also spent driving a swamp where the imaginary buck had disappeared. Not only had I lied to one of my best friends, but also to the rest of the hunting party. My lie had quickly grown.
Months passed and I knew that I had to tell Steve the truth. As I sat before him and shamefully shared “the lie,” Steve graciously forgave me, and assured me of his continued friendship.
Through Steve I got a glimpse of what God’s unconditional love for each of us is like. The Bible says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
PRAYER: Lord God, thank You for loving us when we’re not loveable. In Jesus’ name. Amen
© 1997 Tom Rakow. All rights reserved. Taken from their “Devotions for Deer Hunters” Vol. III ©. Dr. Rakow is the President of The Christian Deer Hunters Association (CDHA) and Rock Dove Publications. He has granted permission for us to post his devotions. They publish several other Christian devotions in booklets. CDHA's address is P.O. Box 432, Silver Lake, Minnesota, 55381. Their phone number is 320-327-2266. http://www.christiandeerhunters.org is their Web address. Rock Dove’s phone number is 1-888-HIS-DOVE. Their Web address is http://www.rockdove.com. Randy Rowley will be happy to check out a Rock Dove booklet (Devotions for Dog Lovers or The Story of the Prodigal Pooch) or a CDHA newsletter or devotional booklet ("Devotions for Deer Hunters" Volumes II, III, or IV) to FCS members only.