Truth

Do you know the truth?  Is the truth in your heart a solid enough foundation that you can afford to rejoice in all circumstances?  

Recently I have been aware of and so thankful that I know the truth, the truth about God, about Jesus' death and resurrection in my behalf, and the truth of God's Word which declares my glorious future.  As Psalm 138 reminds us that it is right to give God glory for revealing His truth, as we "praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth."  As John 1:17 declares, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."  

Jesus, when He was being examined by Pilate, said that He came to bear witness to the truth.  However, Pilate's response was, "What is truth?"  In the same way, many people today do not know what truth is, and unfortunately entertain rather perverted concepts of what really matters, who God is, and what life is really about.  It is like the passage in Romans 1 where they "became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God" for a lie.  The father of lies has blinded their minds from the truth.  

Truth is more than a concept, it is a person.  Jesus said, "I am the Truth."  However, truth, the nature of Jesus Christ, is revealed to us through His Word.  Jesus prayed that the Father would "sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth."  In John 8, He told those who believe that "if you continue in the Word, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  Moreover, Jesus promised that the Spirit of truth will be in you, and "will guide you into all truth."  The point is that God wants us to know truth.  He sent Jesus to reveal the truth of who He is, and established His Word to give us truth "line upon line and precept upon precept" which transforms our fallen-nature minds into knowing His thoughts and ways.  Furthermore, He sent the Holy Spirit to write this truth on our hearts so that we know Him.  

Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls, according to James 1:21.  Man is inherently arrogant and thinks his way is right, but God honors and gives grace to the man who humbles himself to ask God for wisdom and truth.  Our attitude makes all the difference between just reading the  words of Scripture, and on the other hand, being transformed by His grace and truth.  Therefore, approach the Word of God with sincere humbleness, asking the Spirit to guide you into truth as you let His thoughts replace your thoughts and His truth overcome the lies of the flesh and the world.  When you seek Him with all your heart, He will be found. 

May the Lord give you fresh revelation of truth, of His very nature, as you read the Word and let His truth read you, change you, and become the anchor of your soul. Those who know the truth will have God's peace and not be shaken.  Rejoice in and give praise for the Truth.     

Servants are Blessed

I'm Free!  Free to be a servant of the Lord, goes the simple chorus.  Yet, our independent flesh wants to be the boss and not have to listen to anyone, not even God, much less be a servant.  However, clearly man's ways are not God's ways.

In Psalm 143:12, David declares victory over his enemies and great blessings because, "I am Your servant."  He trusts God to teach him to do His will, because "to You I lift up my soul."  Our soul is our inner self, so to lift up your soul means you choose to set you mind and heart and your desires on what pleases God. In other words, lay down what you think and change to desire what He asks, in order to receive the goodness and overcoming life that flows from pleasing your master.  

Psalm 143 continues to remind us of God's faithfulness and righteousness, "Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!" and "Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for I trust in You."  As sure as God is faithful and righteous, He honors those who honor Him.  As David declares, "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life."  

A servant looks to his master to know what to do.  Verse 10 is the prayer of a servant, "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God."  Nothing motivates like having a good reason, and in the next verse God gives it.  "Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.  For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me."  All the Holy Spirit leading and reviving of abundant life is because that is the way to glorify His name.  Even Psalm 23 gives the same reason, "lead me in the way of righteousness for Thy name's sake."  Do it all for Him, He is worthy.

Servants have a heritage, as expressed in Isaiah 54:17.  "No weapon formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.   As servants of God, we are protected from all the power of the enemy and have authority to condemn (render powerless) all those who speak against us.  Servants of God are directed to say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."  Thank you, Jesus, it is well with my soul.  

Love to vs Have to

The question is why do we obey God?  Love to or have to?  Wanting to please God, rather than having to keep a list of laws in order to satisfy God's demands, sets one free.  Our motivation is that we, as receivers of His grace, aim to be well-pleasing to Him, according to 2 Corinthians 5:9. 

 A teen-age boy may not listen to his mother to clean up. dress neat, or practice certain manners.  However, when he falls in love and wishes to please a certain girl those seemingly impossible chores instantly are automatically done out of love and desire to please the object of his affections.  The point is the new motivation. 

This is the essential difference between the law and grace, or more specifically religion and relationship.  Most religions are similar to the Law with a list of "things" that one has to do in order to be in God's favor.  The Gospel is exactly the opposite.  Jesus loves us even when we are sinners, enough to die for us.  One simply has to admit that he has failed or sinned and accepts that Jesus loves him so much that He willingly paid for all our sin consequences through His death and resurrection.  

Accepting this infinite love transforms the human heart, allows the Holy Spirit to make one a new creation, and plants a fresh desire, a "I delight to do thy will" in the believer.  This love relationship motivates more out of wanting to respond to God's infinite love than having to obey a set of rules ever could. Paul explains that the love of Christ constrains us.  

The challenge, according to Romans, is whether this grace allows us to keep sinning.  No, the difference is that now we want to obey out of love, not out of fear of rejection.  

How can one walk with God unless he agrees with Him?  Man's thoughts and ways are totally opposite of God's thoughts and ways.  Therefore, as the believer presents his body as a living sacrifice and chooses to let God's thoughts and ways (expressed in His Word) dwell in him richly, he is transformed and demonstrates the perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2).  When man's heart is to please God, he freely chooses to lay down his old fleshly ways and to grow in walking according to the characteristics of the new man God has recreated him to be.  

Jesus stated in John 14:15, "if you love me, you will keep my commandments." The indwelling presence of God in the new man produces joy and strength to obey His commands.  And then, the very act of obeying God, produces newness of life, (Romans 6) which encourages more love and obedience.  The more we know Him, the more we want to love Him by obeying.  This new loving way of life continues until man is transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. 

God is not interested in a group of robots who are forced to submit and have to do what He wants.  Rather man is created in God's own image and likeness so he can freely choose to respond to the Father's love expressed in Jesus Christ.  Being a cheerful giver, even a giver of our very life, pleases God.  Believers who are born again into this new creation, are empowered with the Spirit to love and actually delight in serving God and pleasing Him.   God shows his pleasure with the infinite rewarding words, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of Your Father.'