Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Pro 27:6)
I just hate it when a friend tells me something I need to hear. Boy, sometimes the truth hurts. It’s much more fun to get a compliment. But sometimes when you love someone the most loving thing you can do is to speak the hard truth. Speaking the truth in love is an art few of us have mastered but all of us must practice. When I’m on the wrong track I need you to love me enough to set me straight. The world is full of insincere flatterers who will tell me what I want to hear just so they can manipulate me to their advantage. A faithful friend will wound me now to save me from greater trouble in the future.
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Dawn in a Land of Darkness
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Is 9:2)
Matthew quotes this verse to describe the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. (Mt 4:16) Light is a powerful metaphor in Scripture. We were all born into darkness – the darkness of ignorance, the darkness of error – with the shadow of death hanging over us. Jesus is the light of the world. (Jn 8:12) He is the light of truth, the light of life and the light of hope. We associate darkness with fear – the fear of death, the fear of unseen enemies or the fear of the unknown. But Jesus comes and casts out all fear. In him are knowledge and wisdom and power. Now the way forward is lit and the end is known. I will live in the light of his truth and the blessing of his love forever and ever. Amen!
Matthew quotes this verse to describe the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. (Mt 4:16) Light is a powerful metaphor in Scripture. We were all born into darkness – the darkness of ignorance, the darkness of error – with the shadow of death hanging over us. Jesus is the light of the world. (Jn 8:12) He is the light of truth, the light of life and the light of hope. We associate darkness with fear – the fear of death, the fear of unseen enemies or the fear of the unknown. But Jesus comes and casts out all fear. In him are knowledge and wisdom and power. Now the way forward is lit and the end is known. I will live in the light of his truth and the blessing of his love forever and ever. Amen!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Know Him and Know Truth
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (Jn 14:16-17)
As the disciples lived with Jesus for three years they were also living with the Holy Spirit and getting to know him. But Jesus gives them a promise of an even more amazing relationship with the Spirit – he “will be in you.” This was fulfilled at Pentecost and now is the marvelous privilege of every believer, to have the Spirit of God living in our hearts. Jesus calls him the Counselor, the Spirit of truth. Through him we can have certain knowledge of things that otherwise we might not know at all. There are a lot of things I think are true based on evidence, there are some things I have concluded based on reasoning and there are many things I accept based on what I hear. But through the witness of the Holy Spirit in my heart there are some things I know. Through him I know God is real, I know God loves me, I know I am saved, I know the Bible is true, and I know I will live with him forever.
The world cannot accept these things because the world does not know him. In philosophy, epistemology is the study of how we know what we know. The witness of the Holy Spirit is a new type of epistemology that secular philosophers cannot accept. Oddly, while it is the most suspect to them it is the most certain to me. But because of this, I cannot expect to argue someone into agreeing with the Bible. I must point them to God and trust his Spirit to soften their hearts. I may often be able to offer evidence or reasoning or testimonies that can help my unbelieving friends see the reasonableness of Christianity, but only the Holy Spirit can make them believe it. Then they, too, will know it with the same certainty that I know it.
As the disciples lived with Jesus for three years they were also living with the Holy Spirit and getting to know him. But Jesus gives them a promise of an even more amazing relationship with the Spirit – he “will be in you.” This was fulfilled at Pentecost and now is the marvelous privilege of every believer, to have the Spirit of God living in our hearts. Jesus calls him the Counselor, the Spirit of truth. Through him we can have certain knowledge of things that otherwise we might not know at all. There are a lot of things I think are true based on evidence, there are some things I have concluded based on reasoning and there are many things I accept based on what I hear. But through the witness of the Holy Spirit in my heart there are some things I know. Through him I know God is real, I know God loves me, I know I am saved, I know the Bible is true, and I know I will live with him forever.
The world cannot accept these things because the world does not know him. In philosophy, epistemology is the study of how we know what we know. The witness of the Holy Spirit is a new type of epistemology that secular philosophers cannot accept. Oddly, while it is the most suspect to them it is the most certain to me. But because of this, I cannot expect to argue someone into agreeing with the Bible. I must point them to God and trust his Spirit to soften their hearts. I may often be able to offer evidence or reasoning or testimonies that can help my unbelieving friends see the reasonableness of Christianity, but only the Holy Spirit can make them believe it. Then they, too, will know it with the same certainty that I know it.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Reflecting Jesus
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Mt 5:14)
In Jn 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” – one of the seven great “I am” statements of the Gospel of John. How astonishing then that in Matthew 5 he told his followers, “You are the light of the world.” Clearly, we are to shine by reflecting his light, for “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (I Jn 1:5)
What does it mean for me to be the light of the world? If those around me are going to see Jesus, they will see his life reflected in mine. If those around me are going to hear the Gospel, they will hear it from my lips. I have an awesome responsibility to speak Truth and live by its light, so that those around me will experience the love of Jesus through me. Darkness cannot reign in my little corner of the world if I set my lamp on a lampstand, proclaiming and living by God’s Truth. Lord, help me be bold, and be true to my calling, so that those around me will see my life and my words as a beacon of hope.
In Jn 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” – one of the seven great “I am” statements of the Gospel of John. How astonishing then that in Matthew 5 he told his followers, “You are the light of the world.” Clearly, we are to shine by reflecting his light, for “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (I Jn 1:5)
What does it mean for me to be the light of the world? If those around me are going to see Jesus, they will see his life reflected in mine. If those around me are going to hear the Gospel, they will hear it from my lips. I have an awesome responsibility to speak Truth and live by its light, so that those around me will experience the love of Jesus through me. Darkness cannot reign in my little corner of the world if I set my lamp on a lampstand, proclaiming and living by God’s Truth. Lord, help me be bold, and be true to my calling, so that those around me will see my life and my words as a beacon of hope.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Walking into the Light
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. (Pro 4:18)
The wicked stumble on a dark path, bereft of true wisdom, but the righteous pursue God on a path that grows better lit the longer they travel on it. When you start on either path it is dark and hard to see. But as we begin to pursue God we see the way things really are more and more clearly. We learn wisdom. Thank you, Lord, for the light of your truth.
The wicked stumble on a dark path, bereft of true wisdom, but the righteous pursue God on a path that grows better lit the longer they travel on it. When you start on either path it is dark and hard to see. But as we begin to pursue God we see the way things really are more and more clearly. We learn wisdom. Thank you, Lord, for the light of your truth.
Friday, May 14, 2010
God and the Philosophers
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. (Acts 17:34)
Greece was the center of learning in the Roman Empire, and Athens was the center of learning in Greece, and the Areopagus was the center of learning in Athens. And here Paul was bold enough to preach the Resurrection of Jesus. Although learned himself, Paul would have seemed rustic and barbarous to these Athenians. His strange tale was one to be sneered at (v32). Yet Paul was not deterred. He no doubt relished the opportunity. And that day, even in such a place, there were those “appointed for eternal life [who] believed” (13:48). An actual member of the council, Dionysius, was saved that day. Despite all his learning and all his sophistication, his heart was open and he believed. I must never censor myself because I presume that my audience is too educated or sophisticated to be receptive to the Gospel. Paul was eager to preach in the synagogues and market places, knowing that most would just want to argue and many would ridicule him. Lord, may I be no less eager. Make me bold to testify at every opportunity.
Greece was the center of learning in the Roman Empire, and Athens was the center of learning in Greece, and the Areopagus was the center of learning in Athens. And here Paul was bold enough to preach the Resurrection of Jesus. Although learned himself, Paul would have seemed rustic and barbarous to these Athenians. His strange tale was one to be sneered at (v32). Yet Paul was not deterred. He no doubt relished the opportunity. And that day, even in such a place, there were those “appointed for eternal life [who] believed” (13:48). An actual member of the council, Dionysius, was saved that day. Despite all his learning and all his sophistication, his heart was open and he believed. I must never censor myself because I presume that my audience is too educated or sophisticated to be receptive to the Gospel. Paul was eager to preach in the synagogues and market places, knowing that most would just want to argue and many would ridicule him. Lord, may I be no less eager. Make me bold to testify at every opportunity.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Stand Up for What's Right
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked. (Pr 25:26)
It is vital that we stand up for what is right and true. If I sit by timidly and say nothing it is as though I agree with the wrong that is being done or said. We need to speak the truth in love. I must not let my witness become clouded by appearing to approve of things God doesn’t approve of.
It is vital that we stand up for what is right and true. If I sit by timidly and say nothing it is as though I agree with the wrong that is being done or said. We need to speak the truth in love. I must not let my witness become clouded by appearing to approve of things God doesn’t approve of.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sanctified by the Truth
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (Jn 17:17)
By applying ourselves to God’s Word we are sanctified – made more like him. In Jn 8:32 when he says “the truth shall set you free” he is saying the same thing: victory over sin. It comes only through careful obedience to his Word, which is only possible as we immerse ourselves in it.
By applying ourselves to God’s Word we are sanctified – made more like him. In Jn 8:32 when he says “the truth shall set you free” he is saying the same thing: victory over sin. It comes only through careful obedience to his Word, which is only possible as we immerse ourselves in it.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Truth That Sets Us Free
If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (Jn 8:31-32)
This reminds me of what I wrote the other day on Jn 7:17. We often quote v32 out of context. We’re not really his disciples unless we hold to his teaching. “Hold to” is also translated “abide” (NKJV) and “obey” (GNT). If we remain in, dwell in, continue in his Word, then we will truly be his disciples and only then will we truly know the truth. And we will not just know it; we will have been set free by it. (Free from sin!)
This reminds me of what I wrote the other day on Jn 7:17. We often quote v32 out of context. We’re not really his disciples unless we hold to his teaching. “Hold to” is also translated “abide” (NKJV) and “obey” (GNT). If we remain in, dwell in, continue in his Word, then we will truly be his disciples and only then will we truly know the truth. And we will not just know it; we will have been set free by it. (Free from sin!)
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