JANUARY 14

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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John 14:6

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the Truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

1 John 5:6

“This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth.”

John 17:17

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is Truth.”

Psalm 25:5

“Lead me in Your truth and teach me,   for You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day.”

Psalm 91:4

“He shall cover you with His feathers,   and under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”

Proverbs 23:23

“Buy the truth, and do not sell it,   also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”

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This month we’re reading  the new devotional   “Becoming New”,  written by  Warren W. Wiersbe and compiled by his grandson.  Pastor Wiersbe was the President of Moody Bible Institute before the current President, Erwin Lutzer.  

TRUTH PLEASES GOD

Read Psalm 51

The God we worship is not only “the living and True God” of 1 Thessalonians 1:9, but also the “God of Truth” in Deuteronomy 32:4, and the “Sovereign Lord, Holy and True.” Of Revelation 6:10.

His words and His works are true, and He is faithful in all He does and says.  Jesus is the Truth, the Holy Spirit is Truth, and God’s Word is Truth.  Note that the Godhead and the Word are not simply TRUE, but TRUTH – the very essence of what is true.

TRUTH IS WHAT COMPRISES REALITY, AND THE CORE OF REALITY IS GOD HIMSELF.

As Paul explains in Romans 1:15-32, if we abandon God and His word, we abandon Truth itself and are destined to believe lies and worship false gods.  From God’s point of view, the history of the human race is not evolution from imperfection to perfection, but devolution from truth to lies, from divine revelation to satanic deception.

Psalm 51 is King David’s prayer of confession after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged to have her husband killed.  For months he tried to cover up his disobedience, but the Lord knew what he was doing and sent the prophet Nathan to confront him.  David confessed his guilt in 2 Samuel chapter 12, and was forgiven; however, he was also disciplined by the Lord and paid dearly for his sins.

“But You desire honesty from the womb.” (Psalm 51:6), said David, echoing what he said in Psalm 15:1 and 2: “Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?  Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill?  Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the Truth from sincere hearts.’

It is possible to say something with our lips that we don’t really mean in our hearts.

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (1 John 3:18).  David could have offered many sacrifices, but he knew the Lord wanted truth and repentance (Psalm 51:16-19).  He remembered what Samuel told King Saul when Saul lied about his “obedience” and offered sacrifices:

1 Samuel 15:22

“So Samuel said:   Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed than the fat of rams.”

If we want to please God we must orient our lives around the Truth.  God’s Truth directs us, and protects us, and without it we are wanderers in a desert.

“Make them holy by your truth” Jesus prayed to the Father.  “Teach them your Word which is Truth” (John 17:17).

In Ephesians 6, the first part of our spiritual armor is the “belt of Truth”.   Truth must be defended or it will be lost, and the best way to defend is to practice it.

God is pleased when His people read and study the Truth and seek to obey it, no matter what the cost.  In spite of the claims of some philosophers and theologians, there is such a thing as the truth and the truth can be sold!  How?  By knowing the truth but refusing to obey it and defend it.  The word ACT is a key part of the word CHARACTER because we build character by the way we act as well as by what we believe.  We please God and develop our own character when we love the Truth and seek to live it.

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