BBD 07.14.04 Rejoice In The Truth
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
like to encourage you to visit this great site at http://www.crossmap.com. Crossmap
has recently added the Burning Bush Devotionals to their site. You may visit
Crossmap’s sister website, the online version of the Christian Post at
http://www.christianpost.com.
The Burning Bush Devotional
(Over 13,000 subscribers in 75 countries)
07.14.04
Rejoice In The Truth
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade
itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is
not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in
the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things. Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
There are some who rejoice in iniquity. Indeed, they prefer evil to goodness
and lying to truth. Maurice Williams who is 24 years old is an example.
Williams was brought before a judge in Indiana and to the judge he claimed
that his name was not Williams. However, the name "Williams" is tattooed on
his back. Williams told the judge in response that, "I can't see what's on
my back. If there's some tattoos on my back, somebody's been bothering me
when I'm asleep." The judge apparently felt the young man was lying because
he charged him with perjury.
In everyday life, we encounter so many people who will tell you a lie even
if the truth is tattooed on their body. How can a person so hardened to what
is right and good ever come to know the Lord Jesus as their Savior? Only
through the grace of God. However, it must be much harder for a person who
has such a dim view of the truth to be saved. Why? Because Jesus is the
embodiment of Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
To some extent, telling a lie is a denial of Truth and Truth’s name is Jesus
Christ. 1 John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the
Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.”
We tend to put sins in a hierarchy with sins like murder and robbery being
the highest and lying being one of the lowest. We speak of "little white
lies" and of lying to avoid confrontations or hurting others. I grew up
lying and after I was married, I would lie to avoid having arguments.
However, Jeanie would always confront me when she found that I had told her
a lie. Soon it became apparent that lying had some very unpleasant
consequences.
After I became a Christian the frequency of my lies have slowly decreased
because not only did I have to answer to my wife but also to my Lord. The
Holy Spirit living inside of me reminds me when I lie that I have sinned. It
was very hard living with myself after lying until I confessed my sin to the
Lord seeking His forgiveness.
Lying to many of us is such a little thing that the lies slip off our tongue
with hardly a thought about it being a sin. James points out, “For whoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all
(James 2:10).” Lying may feel like and seem to be of little consequence,
however, the truth is that lying, whether a “little white lie” or a
“whopper” that would win a liar’s contest, is still sin.
If you have a problem with lying, it is a problem and it is a sin. To stop
you must admit/confess to yourself and to the Lord that you are a liar.
Then, you will be able to receive the mercy of God and abide in Truth. The
Lord will cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) and remember your
lies (sins) no more.
We can rejoice that Truth has a Name and His Name is Jesus Christ. If we
have Jesus in our heart as Savior and Lord we will always rejoice in Truth
(1 Corinthians 13:6).
Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather is available for revivals, conferences, and other speaking and
ministry opportunities as the Lord leads. More information about Ed may be
found at http://www.theburningbush.org/28.html.
If you have a Christian website you are invited to add the link to my free
links at the Burning Bush website. The Bravenet free links is near the
bottom of the front page http://www.theburningbush.org.
If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org
Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website. You can plant your
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at http://www.theburningbush.org
Streaming Videos of our services including my sermons are posted at:
http://www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html
There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.
You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org and you can unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer requests
to over 300 members. Send a blank email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email to:
bbinspire-subscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email to:
tbbrr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Intercede Life Group and pray for and help in practical
ways those who need help. To subscribe send a blank email to
interclife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. A closely related website is
Peoplefaces which seeks to help those in need
peoplefaces.ohzone.net/index2.htm