Love… Rejoices With The Truth
Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.
Luke 23:43 (NIV)
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
John 14:6 (NKJV)
Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18 (ESV)
(NOTE: As the Bible speaks to people of faith, my devotions are written for Christians, including this one.)
The Man, Jesus Christ, personified truth. He walked it, talked it, and exampled it.
Unfortunately, too many Christians try to create their own versions of truth, which is no more or less than deception:
Self-serving lies, we rehearse and rehearse, to convince ourselves and those around us... because lies seem easier than the truth (but only at first).
Who wants to own up to self-indulgence, insecurity, partiality, greed, jealousy, or utter unworthiness? It’s “embarrassing” to confess our sins (but best if we do).
Consequently, truth can be hard to find, even in Christians who say they love Christ. However, to love and follow Jesus… means we must LOVE TRUTH and keep seeking it. When it’s found, all of Heaven REJOICES!
The sinner on the cross next to Jesus DID confess his sins and asked for mercy. The result? Forgiveness and paradise. Only Christ can make anyone worthy!
Zacheus, the wealthy tax collector, DID confess his sins and planned to repay everyone he had treated unfairly. Jesus welcomed him back into God’s grace!
In Peter’s first encounter with Jesus, he DID confess, “I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8)– and he was chosen TO LEAD the new church!
After the prodigal son returned home, he DID confess his failure as a son. Nevertheless, his father welcomed him, as if he’d been raised from death back to life!
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
Let’s close with a thought-provoking question:
Is an honest sinner closer to God than a self-assured Christian hypocrite? If I were asked to vote, I would say YES! Honesty is Heaven’s prerequisite. It forms the foundation for lasting love.
Surely, Heaven DOES rejoice with the truth. It creates the bridge that takes us to God.
Love… Rejoices With The Truth (Part 20)
* 'If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray' (Matthew 18:12-13).
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to models of Jesus, and we all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.
WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!