"Don't Judge Me!"

"He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." ~ Colossians 1:28

The notion in today's society that we're NOT supposed to critique or say anything to correct another is just not scriptural. God calls us to admonish. 

The question is, how do we do it? Do we seep into judgment, condemnation, and condescension with harsh words. Or do we do like the Bible tells us and do it with wisdom, sprinkling salt with our words (Colossians 4:6).

Likewise, it matters who we critique. This passage was written by Paul to believers in Colossae. This was not directed to unbelievers.

So often the church can judge, critique, and condemn people in the world without critiquing itself. But the Bible teaches us to look at the speck in our own eye before looking at the log in the eyes of another (Matthew 7).

As believers, we should not be afraid to admonish. But in all things, we should ensure we're walking as Jesus walked - with grace and truth (John 1:17), not just one or the other.

God bless,

J.W.

Truth Over Feelings

 

Notice what today's scripture doesn't say. It doesn't say have positive feelings towards those who curse you. Or like praying for those who spitefully use you. Because while God understands our feelings, He cares more about how we respond to them. We might feel a certain way about other people, but God also knows that we can choose how we respond. Our actions don't have to match our feelings. It requires maturity to follow this path, but ultimately that's God's goal - to grow us up in the faith and make us look more like Him. 

Watch how you respond today.

God bless,

J.W.

Train Up A Child (Part 7)

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32

Many people misquote John 8:32 and/or take it out of context. Most often, you hear people say "and the truth shall set you free" and that's it. But this scripture reveals much more than just that.

If we look at John 8:32 in context, we see in the preceding verse that Jesus talks about people becoming His disciples. A close reading of John 8:31-32 reveals that it's only after becoming a disciple of Jesus that one is exposed to the truth. Exposure to the truth then makes us free.

In other words, there's a whole process to attain freedom. Simple truth doesn't make people free. It's by becoming disciples of Jesus that we come to know the truth and become free.

In other words, Jesus instructs us to become disciples (Matthew 16:24) - that is, to become students or "studiers" of His Word. He tells us to train by abiding in it (John 8:31).

And just like any trainer, He says we can't get the results without going through the process.

So, the real question is, if you truly want to be free, are you willing to go through the process to get there?

How are you training today?

God bless,
J.W.

The Empty Throne

"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit." ~ Judges 17:6

We live in a culture nowadays where everyone adheres to their own truth, morals, beliefs, etc. It's as if objective truth no longer exists. People will even deny truth when it's staring them right in front of their face.

But Jesus declared Himself to be both King (John 18:36-37) and Truth (John 14:6). Whether people believe it or not, there is one objective truth that we will never be able to escape: there is an all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent God that exists. The Bible says that, in the end, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

It's a dangerous thing when people start to think independently from God, rationality, reason, and logic. When no objective truth exists, the natural consequence is chaos and anarchy. But just like gravity exists whether we believe in it or not, God's Word is truth whether we believe it or not.

Don't fall into this generation's trap. Truth is NOT whatever we make it. Jesus is Truth (John 17:17) - point, blank, period.

God bless,
J.W.

Follow The Leader (Part 5)

"God is not a man, that he should lie; not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" ~ Numbers 23:19

God is reliable, plain and simple. He is trustworthy, honest, and true.

We, on the other hand, are not. We lie - often to ourselves. We change our minds - often for no reason at all, other than the fact that we woke up feeling different that day.We often say one thing and do another. We make promises but often don't follow through.

We simply cannot trust ourselves to make right decisions.

But the great thing is that we have someone we can call on to help us. But we've got to surrender to Him and not rely on our own understanding.

God is not like us. He's much more trustworthy.

God bless,
J.W.

Pure Truth (Part 2)

"For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." ~ Psalm 33:4-5

There's a difference between fact and truth.

Facts tell us the way things are. Truth tells us the way things should be. 

Facts are a rendering of the current state of a thing. Truth speaks to the future.

Facts give us a framework with which to work but truth gives us the entire picture.

The next time someone tells you something, make sure you separate fact from truth.

The word of the Lord is always right. It always gives us truth, not just facts.

God bless,
J.W.

Pure Truth

"For the Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding." ~ Proverbs 2:6

The Bible, i.e. the Word of God, is a source of truth.

That doesn't mean that the Bible is the ONLY source of truth. 

Books by Christian authors, self-help books, and even other religion's "holy books" can have some semblance of truth within them. 

So why should we believe the Bible over other texts?

Because the Bible is the only source of pure truth. 

While other texts may require you to parse out that which is true from that which is not, the Bible is THE ONLY text in which truth is the only thing that could possibly emanate from it. 

Why? 

Because according to Proverbs 2:6, its Author gives wisdom. That's just what He does. According to Numbers 23:19, God does not lie. He is trustworthy. And because the Bible is His word, we can believe what it says.

So the question is, in your thirst for knowledge and understanding, would you rather drink from a pure well, or from a well that could be contaminated?

I don't know about you, but I'd rather drink from the purest water there is.

God bless,

J.W.

Love The Way You Lie

"When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." ~ John 8:44

In the garden of Eden, Satan provoked Adam and Eve to sin, not by telling an outright lie, but rather by deceiving them through truth. He told Eve that if she were to eat the forbidden fruit, she would "be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). That was true.

What he didn't tell Eve was that she was already like God (Genesis 1:26), but that eating the fruit would make her less like God. In fact, it would kill her and her entire family (Genesis 2:17).

As you go through your daily trials, don't expect Satan to tell you outright lies. No. Deception is best executed when disguised as truth.

God bless,
J.W.

Finding God (Part I)

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" ~ John 14:6

Despite our many differences, as human beings, we all essentially desire the same things – that is, love, peace, companionship, happiness.

The problem is, however, that most of all look for those things in the wrong places.

Some of us search for it in drugs and alcohol. Others try to find it in the acquisition of material possessions. Some of us try to find it in yoga, or in religion. Some of us even search for it in other people.

At best, however, these sources can only provide artificial, temporary satisfaction.

The fact is that true love, peace, companionship, and happiness can only be found in Jesus Christ. He is the only way and those that seek to find true happiness must come through Him.

To be continued...

God bless,
J.W.

"Let A Man Examine Himself..."

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32

The most dangerous lie in the world is the one we tell ourselves.

God not only wants us to be real with ourselves, but He wants us to be real with Him as well. But we can't be real with Him, until we get real with ourselves. It's a Catch-22.

So examine yourself today. Is there some aspect of your life you need to work on? Is there an area of your life that God has called you to change in the new year? If so, be truthful with Him and yourself. It'll change your life.

God bless,
J.W.

"But let a man examine himself..." ~ 1 Corinthians 11:28