"Knowledge Or Truth?"

"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."  2 Timothy 3:7

This verse is certainly true of the time in which we live.  Many people who call themselves Christians do so because of the "knowledge" that they have.  But this knowledge is not necessarily "truth". 

Their knowledge says to them that they are a Christian because they go to church.  Or because they do religious works and deeds-- like giving offerings, holding a position in church, attend Bible study, etc.  Their knowledge says that they are a "good" person-- they don't cheat, drink, lie, cuss or engage in any other moral vice-- so that makes them a Christian.  Their knowledge says that they know who Jesus is.  But this is the difference between knowledge and truth. 

Knowledge knows about Jesus.  It knows that He was a good man.  It knows that He walked the earth and did miracles.  It knows that He had twelve disciples.  It even knows that He was God, He came to earth, He was beaten, He died on a cross and He rose again the third day.

Truth, on the other hand, knows that knowledge about Him is not the same as a personal relationship with Him.  That is the truth that makes us truly Christians.  Truth says He died for me and my sins.  Truth says it is more than profession it is faith.  Truth says, "Follow Him, make your life a living sacrifice, mortify your flesh, take up your cross and follow Him, be led by His Spirit, obey Him and embrace His will, decrease so that He might increase in your life, be not conformed to this world but be transform, deny yourself."

Do you only have knowledge of Him?  Do you have religion but no relationship?  Do you have a form of godliness?  Do you know facts and figures about Jesus and the gospel but don't know Him in a personal intimate way and are you following His words?  Do you have head knowledge of Him?  Or does He have your heart?  

Have a great day.  There is a difference in only having knowledge and having truth?  Which do you have?

"Don't Allow It"

"Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth."  Romans 14:22

Do you want to stop feeling condemned?  Then the answer is-- don't allow yourself to do those things that you know are going to make you feel condemned.  The verse above gives us this key-- happy is the one who does not condemn himself in what he allows.  Allowing something and condemnation seem to go hand in hand.

There are things that we do that we know are going to make us feel bad, guilty and condemned afterwards.  Like when we overeat a particular food.  Or watch a program on television we know that we should not watch.  Or when the Spirit convicts us to leave a certain issue alone and we proceed anyway.  Afterwards, we have that "feeling" and then start "beating" ourselves up about it.  For example, if I know that I should not have eaten that second candy bar, but did anyway, I usually feel condemned about it.  I start a mental chastening of myself.  If I had not "allowed" myself to eat it, I would not be going through that.     

We would save ourselves a lot of guilt and condemnation if, like I said earlier, we would just not allow our flesh to do it.  Your flesh has to have your permission.  You have to choose to go in that direction.  You have to choose to give it what it wants. 

Just how do I "not allow" myself to do those things?  How do I stop?  How do I keep from giving in?  I can't control it?  Yes, you can.  You don't owe your flesh anything-- you are not a debtor to it.  You don't have to let it rule you-- you rule it by the Spirit.  You can resist it-- you can do all things through Christ.  When it makes its "suggestions", when it "tempts" you, renew your mind and bring those thoughts captive.  You don't have to let your mind "entertain" it-- make those thoughts submit to the Word of God.  If you do this, you will be happy because condemnation didn't have a chance to attack you.

Have a great day.  If you don't allow it, it can't condemn you.

For further reading:
Philippians 4:13
Romans 6:12; 13:14; 8:12; 12:2
2 Corinthians 10:5

"Not Convincing"

"..... all men know that ye are my disciples...."  John 13:35

Yesterday I found an object half buried in my yard.  When I dug it out, I wasn't quite sure what it was.  It was perfectly round and appeared to be a marble.  I couldn't really tell because of the dust that was on it.  I wiped it off but still wasn't sure.  I thought it was a marble but it didn't have the luster and smoothness of a marble.  It also looked like it might be a steel ball.  When dropped, it bounced like a ball.  It didn't break like glass.  It was tough like steel.  I have an idea about what it is but am not completely convinced.

Many people are like that object, especially when it comes to their profession of Christianity.  It is hard for you to tell what they are.  They say they are a Christian, but their speech betrays them.  They use profanity like it is normal.  They appear to be a Christian because they go to church-- they even work in the church-- but their lifestyle outside of the church doors is anything but Christian.  They look the part but they don't act the part.  They profess to be but their attitude and actions speaks louder than their words.

If a person truly is a Christian, there is no doubt.  Their life lines up with what they say they are.  I am not saying that a Christian can't make a mistake and do something "wrong", but their life overall will line up with what they profess to be.  "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." (1 John 3:9,10)  You can't say you are a Christian and act like someone who isn't.  You either are one or you aren't one.  Just like that object I found.  It can't be a marble and a steel ball both.  

Have a great day.  Is there any doubt that you are a Christian?  Is it something that people can easily tell about you?  Or are they confused and not convinced because you say one thing and act like another?    

"It's Amazing Mercy"

"The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes."  Psalm 119:64

You might wonder where the mercy of God is when you see so much pain, violence, corruption and evil taking place in the world.  I can assure you His mercy is still here.  If it weren't we would all be destroyed-- and a long time ago.  We have done evil in His sight.  We have blasphemed His holy name on many levels.  We have denounced and rejected Him-- even in His own house.  Yet we still continue on and going in the same direction as we have been going. 

His mercy will not always wink at our sins.  It will not always withhold judgment.  It will not always continue to be patient.  It will not continue to tolerate our blatant rebellion against Him and His authority in the earth.  He is a merciful God and is giving us time to repent and turn from our wicked ways.  He does that with individuals, and He does that with nations. 

The saints that are described under the altar in Revelations are crying out for revenge.  We cry out for God to make things right.  We are praying for Him to change the hearts of wicked men.  We wonder how long, oh, Lord, will you continue to allow the flood of ungodly men to sweep throughout the land?  He will avenge those souls.  He will bring the reign of the ungodly to an end.  He will put down all evil doers and their wicked schemes.  He will make all things new.  He will establish His holy and righteous kingdom upon the earth.  But in the meantime, we are under His mercy.  It is because of His mercies that things are allowed to continue.  When He does make all things new, the wicked will be cast out into everlasting hell fire.  They will be thrust into eternal torment.  But because He is a merciful, loving God, He is not willing that any should perish.  Therefore, He is patient and longsuffering giving people time and space to repent.

So, when you are bemoaning the evil that is in the world-- and we should pray, pray, pray because of it-- be sure that you also thank Him and praise Him for His mercy that is in operation today.

Have a great day.  Because of God's mercy we are not consumed, even though we should be.  

For further reading:
Revelation 6:9,10
Matthew 25:41
Psalm 1:6
1 Peter 4:18
2 Peter 3:9

"A Right And A Wrong Side"

"Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."  John 21:3,5,6

There is a right side and there is a wrong side.  There is one side and there is the other side.  The disciples were fishing from one side of the boat-- the wrong side.  Jesus told them to put their nets on the other side-- the right side.  Once they did, they caught more fish then they could pull up in their nets. 

When things aren't "prospering" in our lives, when we aren't being "successful", when what we are doing isn't being "fruitful", it is often because we are on the "wrong side".  We are on the wrong side because we are doing things according to our own decisions.  We chose to do it one way based on our personal desires, our knowledge, our education, the influence of others, because it's the way we have always done it, because we are leaning to our own understanding, because it worked for someone else or because it worked for us in the past.

It wasn't until the disciples followed the instructions of Jesus and did it His way-- the right way-- that they began to catch fish.  Whatever it is that you are putting your hands to do, whatever ministry, whatever business, whatever relationship, whatever project, don't just go out there and make your own decisions about the matter.  Don't lean to your own understanding.  Acknowledge the Lord in it.  Let Him guide you.  Let Him give you direction.  Let Him tell you "which side" is the "right side". 

Have a great day.  There is a right side and a wrong side.  The Lord's side and His way is the only right one.  Seek Him to find out which one is His side.