Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “STRANGERS in the World”
Week 5 of 7: “Speak the Universal Language!”
Full Sunday message, CLICK HERE
5 characteristics of God’s Word and why they matter.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth…(1 Peter 1:22)
“What is truth?” This famous question uttered by Pontius Pilate at the trial of Jesus is one that rings true in every generation and perhaps at one point in every person’s mind.
By definition you would think that truth is simply facts, reality without someone’s opinion or interpretation. You would think that truth would be indisputable and a set of information upon which you could base decisions of life upon.
Yet, it seems in our world truth is hard to come by. Truth has shifted from a basis in objective reality to rest with subjective reality. Fact checkers are now placing their seal of approval, disapproval or questioning of posts on social media. After a speech “Fact checkers” determine what of a candidate’s speech was true or not. Even mathematics, which I thought was perhaps the last bastion of objective truth, has begun to ask the question, “What do you feel is the answer of…?” How I feel about something determines how true something is. If I feel good…it is true. If I don’t…it must not be.
Can I base life on the fickleness of feelings?
No wonder an individual gives up the search and agrees there is no truth…it’s hard to come by.
Until we encounter the words of God.
Even though the integrity of truth in the Word of God is questioned by many, it can stand on its own and meet the measurements of truth. Google dictionary defines truth: ”that which is … in accordance with fact or reality.” So look at the facts. Consider the Bible’s description of reality. Like a judge who tries to determine the validity and truthfulness of testimony based on facts and reality, so one could do the same with the Word of God.
A short devotion give time for all the reasons, but consider this one fact regarding prophecy and fulfillment in the Bible: the odds for all these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance without error is less than one in 102000 (that is 1 with 2,000 zeros written after it)! (FULL ARTICLE)
Our hearts yearn for a truth that can guide our faith and our lives. In the midst of relativism, we desire to have a foundation to build on. The Word of God IS that truth we need and desire. Consider these Scriptures:
- Psalm 119:160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
- John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 … God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Why does it matter to you that the Word of God is true? It matters because you don’t have to wonder if it’s “Fake News.” You don’t have to go to snopes.com to see if a story is accurate. You don’t need the Facebook Fact Checker to alert you to the integrity of a chapter or verse. Your heart and soul can have simple confidence that if it’s the Word of God, it is true. Your soul, your life and your eternity can rest on that FACT and REALITY…the Word is TRUTH!
PRAYER: Lord, sanctify us, set us apart as Strangers in this world, by your truth, your word IS truth! AMEN
Question: What truth of God’s Word will you take in your heart today?