Differentiator
Matt.7:24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”
It is the storms and not wealth that is the differentiator in life. The storm is what reveals you to you. And that is why sometimes, God will allow us to experience storms so that we can identify the areas in our lives that are built on sand and not on the rock. Read the rest of this entry
The Progression
John 8:31 “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” [with emphasis]
Jesus lays out a progression for us in today’s Scripture reference and it is – Believe > Obey > Know > Release. There is the believing, then there is the obeying, then there is the knowing and then there is the releasing.
Truth Kernel
1Pet.1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” [with emphasis]
We are children of God. The truth of God is in our DNA. It is the seed of God in us. An illustration is, a man has intercourse with his wife and unknown to them, the woman conceives immediately.
Engrafted
1Pet.1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” [with emphasis]
Yesterday, we talked about the two types of truth abusers, which are the naïve and the brutal truth abusers. You have to know which one you are tilted towards. I am tilted just a little bit to the brutal.
In Love
Eph.4:15 “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
The truth is that a lot of our loved ones that we have spent years talking to about Christ, are actually blind. They are blind to The Truth so they cannot receive the good news that you bring.
Open Eyes
Ps. 34:12 “Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! 14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”
It is not enough to pride in yourself that you do not tell lies. Listening to lies is equally as dangerous because the spirit of delusion is lurking in the corner waiting for an open door.
True or Truth?
Ps.24:4 “Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. 5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their saviour.”
Most of us think it is just enough to say what is true. But what is true is not always the truth. Something can be true and not be the truth. So, the fact that you said something that is true, does not mean you have spoken the truth.
Cheap Candy
Prov. 18:7 (MSG) “Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words. 8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?”
You have to make sure that gossip has no place in your life. I strongly believe that not everyone that goes around gossiping is evil; some are, but most of them are just idle and ignorant.
Damaging Effects
1 Tim. 5:13 “They also learn to waste their time in going around from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not.”
Gossip is casual or unconstrained conversation about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed and in many cases, lies. If you are in any position of authority, be aware that people will bring unsolicited gossip to you.
Divergent
Ps. 101:7 (VOICE) “The one who makes a habit of deceit will not be welcome in my house; The one who lies will not remain in my presence for long.”
Lying is a spectrum and it has many levels to it. It is not until someone commits perjury that it becomes a big deal. Usually, lying starts small with flattery.
