good book

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. John 7:18

Christian, I have some really good news for you. Not the Good News which you have already received but news that is crucial for continuing in the faith, for growing in your sanctification journey. Here it is: God’s Word is the inerrant truth. Oh, it’s true that many “learned” scholars have attempted to prove this truth as untrue. And they have failed, over and over. As people living out our Christian faith we must make it a requirement to rely on truth, lest we be pulled to the newest, shiniest idea — which interestingly enough, always seems to satisfy our flesh

Our current society isn’t the only one that has tried to disavow the truths in His Holy Word although, “truth” does seem to be taking a beating lately throughout culture. In fact, just yesterday I saw a Facebook post about a woman named Sacheen Littlefeather (born Maria Louise Cruz). The post told of this actress’ 15 minutes of fame when she took the stage for Marlon Brando at the 1973 Academy Awards to “not accept” his award for Best Actor in the Godfather. It was his way of protesting Native Americans’ portrayals in Hollywood. Littlefeather claimed heritage of Apache and Yaqui ancestors. Only one small problem. She was from Oxnard, California born of a father from Spanish-Mexican descent with no tribal ties. Her mom was a white European. While her message may have been appropriate, she as the messenger was committing the same “crime” she and Brando argued against. She erased her own heritage and pretended to take on that of another– lying to everyone who would listen.

I commented on the post (which didn’t tell the truth of her heritage, just the event and what the issue was) that she was a false representative and in fact, stole other people’s heritage. While my comment received a number of “likes” the first comments in reply were full of vitriol on how I was the problem. How being Mexican meant she was a native. How I was erasing the beautiful message. You see, so often now when we get attached to a good idea, or a cause that makes us feel good and righteous we are very unlikely to let go. Even when it’s all a lie. Our feelings have become supreme, not truth.

In the verse I highlighted today, Jesus is speaking directly to a large group of Jews who have their own idea of the “truth” of Jesus.

“Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, ‘He is a good man.’ Others replied, ‘No, he deceives the people.’ But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews there were amazed and asked, ‘How did this man get such learning without having been taught?’” John 7:12-15

Jesus was just a nice, moral guy. Jesus was all smoke and mirrors. Jesus never claimed to be God. Jesus was just some poor Nazarene. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. You’ve probably heard some, if not all, of these lies about Jesus. But our faith is built on actual events. On real people. Not dreams and fantasies. Not some guy who went off into the woods by himself and had a revelation then wrote an entire religion from it. Real people, real events, well documented outside the text of the Bible.

Friend, we should be so very thankful the God gave us His written Word. It has stood the test of time. If your Bible is gathering dust, you are not prepared to face the cultural storm. You need its strength, its wisdom, its knowledge, its promises and most of all its truth.

If you don’t believe the Bible is the inerrant truth, you are creating your own religion. You can do that, of course, but it’s not Christianity. I encourage you today to take that Good Book and start, not just reading it, but studying it. Discovering the amazing true story of God laid out since the beginning of time. Written by about 35 different people over centuries through God’s divine election and spoken to by the Holy Spirit, the Bible stands up to the most surgical like scrutiny. And lest you be led astray by those who say, “But what about the books not included?” First, become proficient and confident in what you do have in front of you and see its completeness. Jesus told those who wanted a more comfortable, more socially acceptable truth that they would never be open to The Truth because they always wanted more proof. Remember Judas still didn’t accept Jesus as The Christ even after He brought Lazarus back from confirmed death.

Just after leaving the festival where Jesus’ deity was questioned, to the Jews who believed Him in the town square and followed Him, He gave us this amazing promise:

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

The glorious and beautiful truth of God and the life He wants for us can now be held in just about every hand in the world. It offers freedom. A freedom for which we can look to the heavens and be ever so thankful for its truth.

May all glory and honor and power be to God. Amen

Listen On Spotify

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

A few years ago, God put my faith listening ears and my trust in Him to the test. He asked me to step outside my well-built comfort zone based on the pride of working. For an unknown period of time, He directed me to feed the homeless with 100 lunches once a week. He told me what to make and where to take the food. He tested and challenged me week after week to put my complete faith in Him. To stand resolutely with Him. For almost a year I experienced a relationship with God like no other.

As I wrote the other day, sometimes God asks us to stay silent. Other times, like during His 100 Lunches Project, God asks us to step up and say, “Yes!” And if we aren’t paying attention, aren’t tuned in to His character, aren’t sure that He is directing us, then we miss out on great gifts of intimacy with Him.

The actual making of the first few weeks of lunches wasn’t so far out of my comfort zone. I had enthusiastic helpers and a husband who supported my venture. But as time passed and God kept calling, I was faced with having to be resolute in following Him. For one, my husband thought this would be sort of a “one and done” activity. Not a financial investment and something that would take up room in our already full garage. He also was concerned for my safety as I ventured into potentially dangerous areas, at times alone. I could have easily agreed with him on all counts and shut the program down. But I knew God wanted me to stand firm. So, as I explained to my husband, God was directing this project, not me, he relented with a few requests. One being that if I didn’t go with someone that I would regularly check in via text.

And then there was my work schedule. At the time I was a long term substitute in a school office. I prided myself on always being on the schedule to work at one school or another. It was my source of “happiness” that people needed me. The direction I was getting from God was to give out lunches in the middle of the week. Doing that would require me to tell the school I currently worked I couldn’t be there that day for an unknown period of time. My fear was they would let me go. And so, I prayed to God. Asking Him to guide me and bolster me. The day I spoke to the office secretary I told her, “I’m doing this lunch project, directed by God. And I can’t work Wednesdays anymore.” A weird thing to say, for sure. Especially in the more liberal area that I live. The response? “Sounds good. We will take you any day you can work for us.”

That’s how the year went. Door after door opened. And some closed as needed. I watched and listened for His Word. And I did His work in His name. It was glorious!

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

The greatest lesson I learned that year was about trust. Trusting in that when God speaks to us and gives us a challenge He will provide. And any obstacle that is put in front of you, you can stand firm in who has your back. That year I had many people scoff at what I was doing. Family, friends, policemen, strangers. But when you know that your mission is God-sent nothing should stop you. You can be resolute.

So many of us Christians are sitting and waiting for God to call us to something special and yet we haven’t taken up the directions already laid out before us in God’s Holy Word. We don’t need another whisper to tell us to be kind or forgiving. We don’t need a tap on the shoulder to know how dangerous our gossiping tongue can be. It’s all there in the Good Book waiting to be lived out. We just need to take a stand for God.

The process of sanctification starts with the basics and moves on toward more and more challenges of trust. When He sees we are obeying the small things He places more of His banquet in front of us. But like the process of knowing when to stay silent we must be able to discern it is God, not our flesh, directing us. I knew it was God asking me to embark on this grand project because it asked me to do things so in opposite of my own desires and yet followed perfectly His.

When you act for God you will have detractors. You will have people that call you crazy. You might even have people who get angry with you. You might have to ask God to confirm you are on the right path. And I’ll tell you, brothers and sisters, when you are on that path, the work you do for Him will be seen by people who need to see it. You just may never realize it.

There were so many lessons for me in that year of 100 Lunches (which grew to about 300 per week!). And one day in December of that year God said to me, “You are done. It’s time for something else.” He closed that door and told me to stop. Even then I needed to be resolute. People chastised me for not continuing. Someone got quite angry with me. My response? “This wasn’t my project to begin with, it was God’s. He told me to be done so I am done. But you are free to serve in my place.”

I mentioned in my last post about the story from Sparkling Gems from the Greek and listening to God’s voice. I’d like to share with you the prayer from that day.

Lord, help me follow the Holy Spirit’s leading whenever He impresses me to do something. I know there have been moments in my life when the Spirit was leading me to do something. But because I didn’t understand it, I didn’t obey – and later I was always sorry. Please help me become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to trust Him when He speaks to my heart. I want to be obedient and to experience the supernatural life that He wants to give me! I pray this in Jesus’ name!

Tag: good book

Glory in the Truth

We Say Yes