At church yesterday, our guests were women currently living
at the Hoving Home
in Oxford, NJ. They are there because their lives had fallen apart. Most of
them once believed they were broken beyond repair, without worth, beyond love –
often as a consequence of abuse and/or rejection. They looked for relief in
alcohol or drugs and the pit grew deeper.
Now they are learning God’s truth that they are, no matter
their past choices, beloved daughters of the Heavenly Father, women of great
worth.
The truth can be hard when it reveals a need for a
change that will require confronting ourselves. The truth can be comforting
when we find a foundation of hope beyond our present set of circumstances. What
do you believe about the world in which you live, about yourself, about
God? We all live out of our basic
structure of beliefs about who we are, why we exist, what gives meaning. If we are living a lie there will be tragic
results!
So where do we find the Truth? God, the Holy Spirit, speaks to us through
the Word. "And we also thank God continually because, when you received
the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of
men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who
believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV) With diligent study, with
prayerfulness that opens our minds, with humility to trust Him with the hard
things – we find a foundation for life in the Word. Jesus is our Living Word, bringing us the
revelation of the Father. Have you
received the word of God?
James describes a common issue with the Truth – refusing to
let it work to bring about transformation. "Those who hear and don’t
act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later
have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse
of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his
eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of
action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action."
(James 1:23-25, The Message) The key to
finding the freedom of Truth is OBEDIENCE. People who hear the Word of God but
don't obey it, live in denial. James
says they become people who have no idea who they are. But, the promise of God is that when we see
our true self in God’s mirror and respond to the Truth we find there, are
liberated by the Spirit, able to grapple with reality and find God’s sufficiency.
What is God saying to you today?
Is He affirming your worth, your calling, your salvation;
asking you to live in His potential?
Is He confronting you with something that needs to be
surrendered to Him?
Our word from the Word today is spoken by Jesus. Though you
may find it familiar, soak your mind in the passage, prayerfully. "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, NIV) Let's
be compelled by the Truth. As we hear and see it, let's believe it and receive
it. Then, we will do the Father's will, and find the joy of freedom.
_______
(The Truth about how God sees you!)
There's got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
'Cause we were taught that's who we are
Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking there's worth in what you do
Then like a hero who takes the stage when
We're on the edge of our seats saying it's too late
Let me introduce you to amazing grace
No matter the bumps no matter the bruises
No matter the scars still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Could it possibly be
That we simply can't believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough
To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that's exactly what He did
Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now I'm ok because
The cross was enough
Then like a hero who takes the stage when
We're on the edge of our seats saying it's too late
Well let me introduce you to grace grace
God's grace
No matter what they say
Or what you think you are
The day you called His name
He made you flawless
He made you flawless
Barry Graul | Bart Millard | Ben Glover | David Garcia |
Mike Scheuchzer | Nathan Cochran | Robby Shaffer | Solomon Olds
© 2014 D Soul Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music
Publishing, Inc.)
Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by
Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
9t One Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
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CCLI License # 810055
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