Truth Telling

Reading through Galatians, I noticed a verse I can’t remember seeing before. I’m sure it’s been there all along but it never caught my attention like it did this day. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16)

Have you noticed how often Christians are seen as the enemy in today’s world, especially when one takes a definitive stand, ignoring political correctness? People of faith are frequently labeled as bigots, intolerant, unloving, narrow minded … 

And truth is labeled “hate speech.”

How typical of human nature – to be “friends” as long as we hear what we want to hear – as long as we are not offended or convicted or uncomfortable. But when truth butts heads with our own behavior or beliefs, we reject both the truth and the truth teller!  Is it any wonder that Christians are so often hated – that there is so much hostility directed towards people of faith and conviction. 

Truth offends.

Jesus, THE Truth, was treated as an enemy by the people – good people, bad people, religious and irreligious people. People took offense at his truth teaching. Yet he loved them, even those who despised him.  There is a way to speak truth in love, without being obnoxious. But truth will offend. We do not get to define what is truth based on what we believe or how we behave or by what the culture deems acceptable. 

God’s Word is truth. (Psalm 119:160)

God help me to hold onto truth –

Believing the truth,

Speaking the truth, (Ephesians 4:15) 

Handling the truth accurately, (2 Timothy 2:15) 

Never exchanging the truth of God for a lie, (Romans 1:25) 

Not caving into the pressures of current trends, hostility or political correctness.

May this be my prayer:

Father,

Help me to always speak the truth, in love, so that You become known to those around me.

And Lord, if someone is offended may it not be You!

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

Amen.

Crucified With Him

CRUCIFIED
     To Give UP - my own demands, desires, dreams, expectations, my life.
     To Lay DOWN - my will, my rights, relationships, possessions.
     To Spread OUT - my arms to receive blows, wounds, attacks and misunderstanding.
     To Cry OUT - to God, the only One able to bring me through it.
     To DIE - to self

Only to be BORN AGAIN - with new desires, hopes and expectations.
     In joyful submission to the Giver of Life.
     Arms wide open to those in need.
     Giving love and hope to others.
     Receiving from the Creator of the universe - ALL that I need to fulfill his purpose for me.
     Enjoying fellowship with Him on a daily basis - FOREVER!
     Sustained by the Bread of Life.
     Satisfied by the Living Water.
     Guided by the Good Shepherd.
     Enlightened by the Light of the World.
     Comforted by the Lover of my soul.
     Indwelt by the One who will never leave or forsake me.
FORGIVEN
FREE
FULLY ALIVE.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; 

Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:

 And the life which I now live in the flesh 

I live by the faith of the Son of God, 

who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

View from the lounge chair

We come bursting into this world making an entrance -
Fighting, crying, demanding, creating, expecting...
And for many, much of life continues in the same vein -
Active, restless, demanding, expecting, making things happen!
Then suddenly -
In those 'get away from it all' moments,
The beauty and peacefulness of stillness is savored.
The peaceful serenity of a sunrise,
Gentle breezes,
Waves lapping the shoreline,
Puffy clouds,
Birds in graceful flight -
And we wonder,
Why is so much of life lived at a frenetic, hurried pace,
As if it's up to us to keep the earth spinning on its axis,
the sun rising and setting, the galaxy intact.
As if we were to stop, things would come to a grinding halt,
stars would fall crashing into the sea, birds would cease flying?
Look UP!

"The heavens declare the glory of God..."

But to look up, we have to STOP.
His glory is all around us.
He knows how many grains of sands are on the beach.
He feeds the birds.
He clothes the wildflowers.
He brings the gentle breezes.
He calls the stars by name.
He is majestic and awesome.
He holds it all together.
My doing doesn't change that one iota.
I can BE...
Because HE IS!

"Be still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

"My soul, wait silently for God alone,

for my expectation is from Him." Psalm 62:5