Tag: truth

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11.13.24. Who is Jesus to you?

John 10 Discerning Truth

As the people listened to Jesus there came divisions. Some questioned who he was, others noted that “Many came to him and began to say, “John performed no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true!” [Jn 10:41] 

When we hear the claims of Jesus is this our response? Do we read this chapter and learn from Jesus about thieves and robbers in contrast to himself? How do we respond? 

Today stop and consider what this chapter teaches and decide: Is Jesus who He said He was, or do we pick up stones to kill him? 

Are you spiritually blind or free?
Do you believe Jesus is who He said he is?
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Truth Matters…

use scripture to discern

1 Cor 7 Opinions vs Truth

What do you trust more; someone’s opinion or the truth? That seems like a rather simple question with a simple answer, but not so fast. In our world, opinions fluctuate and cause problems that seem insolvable. So what does one do? One goes to the scripture and seeks their answer there. What does God say? Why does God say it? What then should my decision be? Those are the questions we should be asking. Now the questions have arisen in the Corinthian church about sexuality, marriage and celibacy. The opinions ranged from singleness to divorce. What does God say? 

God looked about at His creation and noted that each animal had their mate. And then God said, it is not good for man to be alone and so He created woman to be with man. He did not create more than one but just that one that was perfectly suited to him. And thus it was, then it is today.There is one mate for each person but until then each should remain celibate. Why does God provide mates for some and not for others is what we call a conundrum. Some questions are left unanswered but the truth of the matter is that we are commanded to remain as we are to present ourselves pure and holy for His purposes alone. 

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Truth

be discerning


When Jesus stood before Pilate, he asked him this question: What is truth? John answers that question in his first epistle and now again in John 2. The Truth resides in us, and the person of Jesus Christ said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father, and no one comes to the Father but by Me.” [John 14:6] As John writes to the elect lady and her children, he extolls that he has found some of her children living according to the truth. What does living according to the truth mean? It means, as John says, they walk according to the commandments of Christ. The commandment that John is referring to is what Christ said: Love one another, and by this, you fulfill the Law and the words of the prophets and prove you are one of the elect.

As we near the end of 2023, stop and ask yourself if you are walking according to the TRUTH, the Christ. As He loved, so we are to love one another. As He obeyed the commandments of the Father, we are to do likewise.

Where are you walking and living by the TRUTH?

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TRUTH!

be discerning

2Cor 7 “Are you Blindfolded?”
The dialog between Pilate and Jesus revealed that he was born to testify to the Truth. God’s word is Truth because He is the author, and Jesus is the living Truth that God sent. At that point, Pilate sneeringly asked Jesus: “What is truth?” Not willing or not being interested in further dialog, he walked away. Yet the Proverbs writer wisely said, “Acquire truth and do not sell it…” This Truth is so precious it cost the life of Jesus! Perhaps that is why Jesus gave us this short parable about Truth. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field that a person found and hid. Then, because of joy, he sold all he had and bought that field. [Matt 13] The treasure is Jesus, who is TRUTH, and when we stumble upon Him, we should be willing to surrender all. Jim Elliot captured this: “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

When we find The TRUTH, referring to Jesus, we should be overjoyed and refuse to sell it to the next highest bidder, much like Judas did. Like Judas, Pilate chose to spurn the Truth and return to his way.
Are you still blindfolded to the Truth, or have you received it joyfully?

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Transformed

Matt 11: The populace wondered who John was. They wonder who “this” Jesus is. Over and over the question surfaces, who is this man? Who was John speaking from the wilderness? Yet, we know that John knew who Jesus as for the heavens opened and he saw the dove descending upon Jesus and heard God speak: This is my beloved son, listen to him. 

So why did John, in prison, send two disciples to ask Jesus are you the one to come or should we look for another. Graciously Jesus asked them to look at the evidence. Times have changed but the questions remain the same: is He the Christ. 

Jesus in His gracious way says look at the evidence. The blind see; the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, He asks the people and the two disciples of John to look at the evidence. That is what we must do as well, ask people to see the evidence. What has happened in our lives? Is it clear to others of His saving grace? Is this verse true in our lives as others look at the evidence: Are we being transformed? [2Cor 3:18; Rom 12:2] 

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The Folly of Hypocrisy

hypocrisy or truth

Deut 29 God’s plan is pretty simple: obedience leads to blessing,  and disobedience leads to curses. Ironically we are much like the Israelites, a stubborn people. Hypocritically, we want to come to God on our terms, not His, and then we wonder why we are faced with such grievous lives. Deut 29:19 “It shall be when he hears the words of this curse that he will boast; I shall even have peace even though I follow the dictates of my heart.” Note his bold assertion is much like what we hear today; it is ok for you but not for me. It isn’t as if they can’t believe and obey, it is that they won’t believe and obey. Hypocritically, they say, “I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.

The folly of hypocrisy is ever before us. Choose ye this day whom you will serve were Joshua’s words. Remember this; “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those that are revealed belong to us and our descendants forever, [why] so that we might obey all the words of this law” [Deut 29:29].

Are we a hypocrite in our words and actions? Turn around and walk the other way which is the way of truth.

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Out of the Nowhere into the Fray

Do you present Christ only for it to fall on deaf ears? Then this story of Elijah is for you! Please take time to read the whole story.

1Kings 17 to 19 out of nowhere2a

1Kings 17 – 19 How often have you wondered when God was going to work and when He did, you can’t fathom how it all happened? Such is the case of Elijah the Tishbite in Gilead. Why did God call him to a nation of whom he was not related? God’s ways are not our ways, thankfully. God’s patience had run out for King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and He would take an ordinary man to prove that Baal was false and God was real. And so the contest began over the sacrifices.

Baal earned a zero in answering and God earned a resounding 100%.

You would think after seeing God’s power unleashed the king and queen would relent and believe but just as today, they did not. Instead, Jezebel decided to end Elijah’s life once and for all. God revealed His power and Baal’s lack of power. God now will have the last word for these workers of iniquity.

The contest is over and where do we find Elijah but in the desert whining in his depression. How like us! Truly Prov 29:25 is truer than we want to admit. We fear men more than we fear God. We have a mountaintop experience, fail to see others turn to Jesus and we fall into the valley of despond. Many love Easter for its resurrection story but on Easter Monday they fall back into their unbelieving ways. And like Elijah, we retreat to the cave where we can hide. I told the Easter story but it fell on deaf ears! Oh woe is me, I am a failure! Can you relate? It has happened more than once to me and probably it has happened to you as well.  That is why Elijah’s story is so very relevant to our lives and why we need to read it again and again. We need to see the compassionate heart of God when we are facing the deadly d’s of discouragement, depression, dismay and more. God calls out to Elijah to remind him he is not alone in this work!

So, friend, when you feel you are swimming upstream against unbelief, read this story again and again. You may not be an Elijah but you are called to present Jesus! Get up and get back to work. If we don’t present Christ they will enter a Christ-less eternity and you will hear that their blood is on your hands just like God told Ezekiel—but that’s another story for another time. 

There are still people who need to hear about the power of the Resurrection.

Get up and tell the gospel story to all whether they believe or not!

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Is Your Blindfold On?

blindfolded2aProverbs 23:23 “Is Your Blindfold Still On?”

A recent experience reminded me of what a blindfold does—to hide what should be seen. Pilate was a man who walked blindfolded. When Jesus sought to remove his blindfold by telling him that he came to testify to the truth so men might see and recognize Him as Truth, Pilate sneeringly asked Jesus: “What is truth?” Not being interested in further dialog, he walked away.   The image of God, Jesus, TRUTH, stood before Pilate yet it was as if he willingly chose to put the blindfold of ignorance back on!

The Proverbs writer wisely said “acquire truth and do not sell it…” This truth is so precious because it cost the life of Jesus!  Perhaps that is why Jesus gave us this short parable about truth. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field. [Matt 13:44] The treasure is Jesus who is TRUTH and when we stumble upon Him we should be willing to surrender all to Him. Jim Elliot captured this in a nutshell: “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

The question then before us is why, when truth is revealed would we choose to put the blindfold back on? It is because  2Co 4:4 “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” Like Pilate we have the choice. We can let Truth remove our blindfold we can see Him in all of His glory or return to the blindfold because we don’t want to see our need for Truth.

Is your blindfold still on or have you received the TRUTH with joy?

 

 

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Those Pesky Deadly D’s

jesus way truth lifea

 

As we continue through the letter titled simply Hebrews we are noting the fatherly yet teacher  character.  He has not been remiss to remind the reader that even though they might be like those  who are facing almost daily  persecution and difficulty in their lives, these readers should beware of drifting and disbelief which are part of the disease of the deadly d’s. Our archenemy has his arsenal complete with just the one for today it seems–like distraction. You are on your way only to be distracted from your appointed round by it! And then there is discouragement. Add to that list any more that begin with “dis..” and you get the picture.

But, Christ is supremely appointed as our high priest and he is greater than any “dis…” The author of Hebrews reminds us that we need to focus on Christ who is and was the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. As the Son, Jesus is superior to angels, superior to Moses and now superior to Aaron. And yet in his humanity he suffered, prayed deeply, was tempted yet without sin. This is why he could “[become] the source of [our] eternal salvation.”

It is why Jesus said about himself “I AM the Way, The Truth, the Life” and no one, not a single person alive now or before or in the future will  come before the God of the universe apart from Jesus Christ. Many say that is so narrow-minded. I didn’t say it Jesus did. He is the one who died on that cross and rose again to new life. Consider then the source.

Think of being on a deserted island with no provisions. A rescuer comes. You have a choice, will you choose to trust him even though he is a stranger when he says, “if you trust me I will take you to safety.” You have a choice to follow or stay. The one who follows is just like the one who trusts the words of Jesus and is saved for eternity. The one who says no I won’t trust him has just lost their ticket to salvation/freedom, rescue and a life with God in eternity.

Have you believed and trusted God’s plan or are you thinking if I just love God it is enough? James said  “Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear” yet they are not saved for eternity. God’s plan may be narrow-minded in your eyes but that is His way, will you trust him? The blessings are out of this world!

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How to Pray for the Wicked

psalm 58 59 pray boldly2aToday as we watch the news our hearts are filled with much sadness by the many atrocities around our world. But God wants us to see that it is at times like this that we must be bold in our prayers for those who are blinded by the enemy and do NOT know the truth so that they may come to the knowledge of who Jesus really is and who God is.

TRUTH: The Holy Word presents the case of the righteous vs the wicked (the ungodly) from Genesis to Revelation that we may be discerning of the ways of Satan.

TRUTH: But there is also another reason and it is so that we may confidently approach God with weeping and praying for their lost souls. We know from history that the words of Paul have come true in more than one century: “fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” The why is clear: “the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.” [Jn 16] because “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2Co 4:4]

TRUTH: We must  bow before the Father and pray that their eyes of their heart be enlightened so that they may know the hope that is true and everlasting; that they may come to the knowledge of the true God; that the blindness that Satan has passed over their eyes may be removed and they see with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn to God and be healed. [John 12].

TRUTH: Beloved we are blessed to know the truth. Be bold before the Father and pray with boldness for the lost.

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