A page from my journal –
Tag: Truth
Not Made To Be Alone
A Love God Greatly Study
Introduction
This introduction is not my own. I borrowed it from the Love God Greatly Journal, and I’m guessing some version of it has been on their blog page, so you may have already seen it. However, if I was going to write an introduction meant just for our little group, one that would encourage each participant to be committed to and participate in this little community – I couldn’t have written it better than this. When I started this group two or three years ago it was in part out of concern for those who couldn’t get out or didn’t have a group to be a part of. Years ago God called me to equip, encourage, and empower women with His Word and I have been trying to do just that since the day He called me. However, because of family responsibilities, health issues of my own, and the whole covid shut-down I was struggling with the commitment of the two in-person groups I led,. So this group became a God directed outlet of hope to help others to stay or be strengthened in their faith by spending time in God’s Word, both personally and also with an online group of women hungry for the same thing. My hope and prayer continues to be that our little community will develop into one where we share/discuss what we are learning or simply a favorite part of the day’s passage, and even praises and prayer requests. To quote the opening and closing words of the following introduction, “- I know this is hard. … but [ladies] we were not made to be alone; we were created for community.”
I’m praying for each of you but I sure would love to know whose participating. It’s easy to let me know, simply share a comment or hit the like button after reading the introduction I can’t wait to see what God has for us in this study!
Week 1 Memory Verse: You can do this!
Week 1 Challenge: Enhance your study this week –
Ancient Words Strong and True
Scripture Reading: Numbers 23:19; Psalm 19:9 and 119:160; Isaiah 45:19; John 1:14, 8:31-32, and 17:17-19
God’s will is that you take your place among the community of believers as a truth bearer in a world full of lies. Honesty should characterize all of your dealings, great and small, so that when you are asked to give a reason for what you believe, your credibility is a foregone conclusion. And when you are asked, proclaim Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. Invite them to what is real.
In His Image, Jen Wilkin – p 130
Reasons for the Truth
As believers we are meant to know the truth of God and to be alert to the ‘false’ messenger [the father of lies, John 8:44] and the false messages of the world. In my understanding there are two primary reasons for this:
- If we do not know the truth of God we cannot share the truth with those around us, as God has clearly called us to do. (Matthew 28:19, John 17:17-19, Romans 10:14-15, John 8:31-32)
- If we do not know the truth of God we are in jeopardy of succumbing to the temptations of the flesh and to the lies of the world (John 8:31-32, 17:17-19, Matthew 4:1-11, 1 Peter:5-8)
[We] learn to discern what is fake by studying what is real.
Jen Wilkin, In His Image – p129
The Truth As a Weapon and a Tool
Paul’s description of the armor of God, in Ephesians chapter six, includes the “Belt of Truth” (or the Word of God) and “The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Paul begins his reasoning and warning about the need for the armor, saying, “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God,” why? “So that [we might] be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” From this description we can see that the Word (or TRUTH) of God is used to hold us up against and to protect us from – the enemy’s schemes to steel, kill, and destroy the blessings of the life and liberty that God has granted us in Christ Jesus. Long before Jesus came in the flesh the power of God’s Truth was known as a weapon, as David wrote that he had “hidden God’s Word (TRUTH) in his heart so that he might not sin against [God].”
Not only can TRUTH be used as a weapon but it is also an important tool in our representation/presentation of God to the world. The words and actions we use should be filled to overflowing with the light and love of God so that others see and hear Him in us. David prayed that the words of his mouth and even the things he thought about would be pleasing to God, and – as we’ve mentioned before in this study, we are meant to be lights in this world SO THAT others will see God’s goodness in us and glorify Him in heaven. Our only hope of being this kind of “truth bearer” is to abide in Christ, the living Word of God. John 8:31-32 says that when we do this we will know the “truth” and be set free from the wickedness and captivity of this world and even from that of our “own deceitful hearts”, Psalm 119:9-11.
While the world, even the Christian sector of the world, focuses on or encourages individual truth, or “a fresh word”, Jen Wilkin writes,
Truth Passed Down
“We need our gathering times to remind us that the truth we are staking our lives on is a truth we share with every believer in our congregation. Moreover, it is a truth we share with every believer who has ever lived. it is an ancient truth that suffers no loss of integrity with the passage of time. In fact, the longer it endures, the more its witness is confirmed. – Every word of God is true and good, but not only that, none of them ever grow stale. The practice of asking God for a “fresh word,” a new truth personalized for us, has grown more and more popular – but it is not new truths we need; we need old truths recently forgotten. it is not personal truths we need, but rather shared truth preserved and passed down from one believing generation to the next, personalized to us in our current day. That shared truth is available within the pages of God’s Word to me and to all who believe.”
My Prayer Response
Father, lying can come so naturally. So often we craft our words to match the desired answer of our listener or to meet the results we desire. You know I used to struggle with this and I became very good at misrepresenting or shading the truth far too easily – or at the very least considered it far too naturally. As the author of the book said, we have an aptitude for speaking with the forked tongue of the Serpent. Oh how I praise You for Your transforming power and the Spirit’s continued and faithful conviction – and I pray that that You would continue to foster in me a hatred for dishonesty, a discernment for false teaching, and a love for the truth of Your Word. Thank You, Father for the freedom You have given me through Jesus Christ, The Way – The Truth – and The Life! In His Powerful and Merciful Name – Amen!
Questions for Reflection
Does honesty characterize all of your dealings, great and small, so that when you are asked to give a reason for what you believe, your credibility is a foregone conclusion? In other words, are you speaking the truth in all things? Do you embellish the truth in order to make something sound better? Or do you practice (and perhaps even defend) the art of lying in order to guard against trouble? Finally, are you abiding (staying) in the Word, the Truth of God? As we seek to be more like God these are important questions, even crucial questions, to determining how we are presenting or representing God to the world. May God give us grace and discernment and honesty in examining ourselves in the light of His Word. May our character align with His will and expressed truth.
But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
Matthew 5:37 explained
No Other Access
Today’s Reading: John 13:31-14:31
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 HCSB
Loving Others
I’ve had John 13:34 in my memory bank for many years, so while it isn’t our focus/soap verse I can’t just skip by it. Love is a key ingredient of Christ’s teaching. Actually, loving others was included in the answer He gave to a teacher of the law who asked Him what the most important commandment was. After explaining that the greatest commandment is loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength He went on to say that loving our neighbor was equally important. Suffice it to say Love was a vital part of His teaching and He intends for it to be a vital part of the believer’s life as well. To understand why it’s so important we only have to read the next verse which says, “By this (loving like Jesus) all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
You see it isn’t just nice to love one another like Jesus has loved us, it is our testimony for Him.
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31
“How Can We Know the Way?”
Jesus was re-emphasizing the importance of love because it would be the very thing that identified them as His witnesses when He was gone. This naturally led to great concern over where He was going and answers they didn’t quite understand. This discussion led to our focus verse today which was Jesus’ answer to Thomas who asked: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” The answer comes back to one we have looked at before, Jesus is the way to the Father for everyone who believes. So He makes the statement again that when we know Jesus we know “The Way”. He is not only the way to the Father, but He is the truth of the Father, in the flesh,(Psalm 119:142 and John 1:1). Finally, Jesus declares Himself to be the life from the Father, (John 3:16).
The answer to Thomas’ question is the same for us today. When we know Jesus we know The Way! While we rejoice in this we must take seriously the alternative – for those who do not know Jesus do not know the way and will have no access to the Father’s promise of eternal life. For this reason, like Jesus, we must be committed to our Father’s business – the saving of souls.
Personal Application
There are several noteworthy applications we can make from our focus/soap verse as well as others from today’s reading.
- Let’s look at our focus verse in John 14:6.
- Examine how Jesus has loved you and love others like that. (13:34)
- Be His witnesses (13:35)
- Go “the way” of Jesus – the way of the cross. (Luke 9:23)
- Walk in “the truth” – His Word is truth (Psalm 119:142)
- Live “the life” of freedom that He came to give (Gal 5:1, John 10:10)
- Enjoy the access we have to the Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16; Eph 2:18
What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
https://westminstershortercatechism.net/manschiefend/
2. I also want to make an application note on verse 11 of chapter 14, where Jesus tells Philip to believe – if not because of what He has told them – then because of all they had seen Him do. You see, it won’t always be what we say that leads others to believe – sometimes it will be because of what we do in His name – such as loving others as He has loved us.
3. The final application came at the end of the passage, 14:31 where Jesus says to His disciples –
but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.
Actually, it’s those last five words that hit me. It is so easy and comfortable to sit in the presence of Jesus, to talk with Him – listening to Him, asking Him questions, gazing into His eyes through His Word. But, at some point we must “get up” and go out from that place of safety and comfort to do what the Father has commanded us – and this so that others may believe. For “how will they believe if they do not hear?”
As we discovered earlier this week, we are His messengers and today we have seen that we are His representatives – so that others will know that we are His disciples. In this He is glorified (made known) – and in this the Father will be pleased.
A Packaged Deal
Suggested Reading – John Chapter 7
While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”
John 7:28-29
History, Rituals, and Irony
Jesus challenges the Jewish people with this statement from verses 28-29, a statement that brings into question who they are – basically a rerun of the conversation He had with the Jews He addressed in Jerusalem, noted in chapter 5. Both conversations took place during the 7-day “Feast of Booths”, also known as the “Festival of Tabernacles”. The Festival was a celebration commemorating Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Because it was rich with history and rituals the crowd would have been large and the city crowded which means this conflict would have been all the more intense and public. Don’t miss the irony, a festival where God’s people are celebrating their ancestor’s journey through the wilderness and they’ve just been told by Jesus, the Son of God, that they don’t even know God.
The rituals of this festival reminded the people of how God had provided for Israel during their journey out of Egypt.
Bibleref.com @ John7:2
Where in the world
The people contended that they knew where Jesus was from and that this meant He couldn’t be the Christ because no one would know where the Messiah was from, vs 27. So, He shouts out, acknowledging they knew where He was from – well, at least they knew where in this world He was from – but what they didn’t know, or who they didn’t know – was God, the One who sent Him. Basically He repeats the message He delivered to the Jews in Jerusalem just days earlier. Jesus wants them to understand that it’s the One who sent Him that they do not know.
This is a direct criticism of Israel's spiritual state, and an extremely personal reproach. Israel's ultimate point of pride was its identity as God's chosen people. No other nation could make that claim—and here, Jesus tells God's chosen people that they do not know God! Their rejection of God (John 5:39–40) has resulted in a rejection of the One sent by God (John 6:29). Stubbornness and pride have made them resistant to the truth (John 7:17). Bibleref.com @ John 7:28
You Can’t Have One Without the Other
I noticed three specific things in these two verses:
- God sent Jesus to the people
- Jesus always points to the Father for those who come to Him must believe in the One who sent Him, (John 5:24).
- Jesus speaks with humble but certain authority.
My Response
- To live like Jesus means I cannot shrink back when others challenge or threaten what I know is truth from God
- I should speak with humble authority-
- I should always promote God and Christ above myself and all others
My Prayer
Father, You are the One who sent Jesus, the One who comes in Your Name and authority to save those who believe in Him and in You who sent Him! Father, I have believed – Help me and use me to share the message of the Gospel which is Your power to save. In Jesus’ Name – Amen and Amen!
Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post
Love God Greatly Blog
Simply and Profoundly Good
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Psalm 34:8
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Father, You are good! My mind never doubts this sustaining TRUTH. You are simply and yet profoundly good. My heart rejoices in Your goodness to sustain, to love and teach, and to build up those who now belong to You. In Your goodness You brought us in and have transformed us from strangers and from enemies to members of Your family, not simply or haphazardly brought in but carefully joined together in Christ.
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2: 19-22
In your goodness You protect and strengthen, You comfort and encourage, and You fill us and guard us with a peace that passes all understanding. Surely, as the Psalmist wrote, You guide us on paths of righteousness for Your namesake. However, I have learned that even when we walk through the valleys that seem dark and lonely and covered with the daunting shadows of sorrow, discouragement, and fear – in Your goodness You are also there. I find You quietly dispelling the shadows with the gentle reminder from your Spirit that we have no cause for fear or discouragement, for in Your goodness You will strengthen us and You will help us. You will hold us up with Your victorious right hand.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
My mind is riddled with a series of questions that beg to be asked. Why do You love us who were Your enemies? Why have you made us part of Your family and continue to build us up into Your Holy Temple? Why do You lead us and show us the right way to go or dispel the shadows in the valleys? The only answer that comes is this: You are simply and profoundly good! Even if I had not tasted and seen Your goodness for myself – You, proclaimed Yourself to Moses as – “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth”, Exodus 34:6.
Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
Psalm 34:5-7 NKJV
One final question lingers – what is my response? To which I gladly and humbly answer – relying once again on Your goodness … Answer graciously this prayer my God – that I might convey the truth , reality, and depth of Your goodness in my thoughts, both written and spoken, and in my life lived out, so that others might truly know and forever share in Your goodness through Christ Jesus my Lord – Your good and perfect gift of salvation to all who believe.
“For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
How great is the goodness
Psalm 31:19 NLT
you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
Want to know more about the goodness of God, salvation through Christ, eternal life, or how to get through the valleys? Reply below or message me at mryelnb@aol.com –
WEEK 6 – TRUTH OVER LIES: OVERCOMING LIES
OVERCOME BY: PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT
Read: Psalm 119:6 and SOAP: Psalm 25:5
Truth: Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- What is discernment
When we seek the Lord, we will find Him. He will not allow us to walk in darkness. We simply must be patient and wait for His guidance.
Read the full devotional
Week 6 – Truth Over Lies: Overcoming Lies
OVERCOME BY: WALKING IN TRUTH
Read: John 17:17 and SOAP: John 8:31-32
Truth: Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32
What do you think?
- Where do we find truth?
- What does it mean to ‘walk in truth’?
If we want to stand firm against deceit, we must learn to walk in truth.
Read the LGG Devotional here
John tells us how to discern between the Truth and a lie: We must abide closely to the One who is the way, the Truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
Read the Love God Greatly blog here
TRUTH OVER LIES: OVERCOMING LIES
Overcome by: Learning Wisdom
Read: Proverbs 13:20 and SOAP: James 1:5
Truth: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- Why is it important to surround ourselves with people who are wise?
Some of us may not think of ourselves as wise. Fortunately, wisdom is a trait we can develop. Scripture mentions a couple of ways we can grow in wisdom.
Read the full devotional
TRUTH OVER LIES: LIES ABOUT HAPPINESS
LIE: Happiness can be found apart from God
Read: Psalm 68:3, 144:15, 146:5; Hebrews 1:9 and SOAP: Psalm 4:6-7
Truth: Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.
Psalm 4:6-7 NLT
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- Can you truly be happy apart from God?
- Why or why not?
Psalm 68:3 declares that the righteous will be glad and celebrate because of God. He is the reason for our joy and our salvation. He gives us purpose and life. Those who do not believe often try to fill their lives with other things, but they ultimately are unsatisfied. –
Read the full devotional
Think about your life, or more specifically your day, and make a list of things that make you happy. Now, what if all those things were stripped away from you, could you still be happy? Would the day be a good day, or a bad day? Would life still be worth living? I fear that many of us would answer those questions with an unapologetic, “no.” –
Don’t miss today’s LGG Blog
Me From the Inside Out 