Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ Jesus. Ephesians 4:15

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ Jesus. Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)    [Sunrise Photo April 15, 2013]

Day 15 Truth or Lie ?

A True Testimony

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. John 21:24

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”  Luke 24:34

The quest for truth

I respect the doubt of the agnostic, or the skepticism of the atheist.

In my view, resistance to the Christian narrative, or really, any narrative of faith predicated on belief in the reality of the supernatural – could be the position of someone who is on a reasonable search for truth.

Of course this assumes the non-believer  is actually reasonable and open to a world view that does not fit his paradigm.

Big assumption, but let’s continue.

The quest for truth is a powerful driving force in the DNA of the human spirit. But there is always, at some level – a leap of faith required to actually believe, well,  just about anything.

The witnesses in the gospel are speaking to anyone who would listen, really listen, to what they’re saying – “Look, we’re not making this up. This is not a fairy tale. It is not a myth. We really saw this guy. It happened. It is true.”

And everyone who hears their message today has a choice to believe their testimony or not.

If it’s not true, it’s a big lie

If there’s no resurrection, there’s no living Christ. And face it—if there’s no resurrection for Christ, everything we’ve told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you’ve staked your life on is smoke and mirrors. Not only that, but we would be guilty of telling a string of barefaced lies about God, all these affidavits we passed on to you verifying that God raised up Christ—sheer fabrications, if there’s no resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:13 (MSG)

Who cares about truth ?

37 Pilate said to Him, Then You are a King?

Jesus answered, You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am a King!]

This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice. John 18:37 (AMP)

 Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice. MSG

This is written so that you may believe

If we really care about others, we will want to help them. We will “speak the truth in love” in order to bless and serve our fellow human beings. That was the motivation in John’s writings as well as all the gospels.

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31

Ditto for moi. I hope my writings help the reader believe and truly have a super awesome life. 🙂

Soli Deo Gloria!

Let’s Pray:

I invite you to pray with me today from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, Amen

Your Thoughts?

In today’s devotional I let the scripture quotations to do most of the talking. Did this approach make sense to you or did it seem disjointed? I appreciate your feedback.

About This Devotional Series

According to the historical church calendar, the Easter season is the 50 day period from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.  I’ll post a fresh devotional thought with my sunrise photo of that morning, everyday through Pentecost, commenting as the Spirit inspires. Check out the rest of the series here.

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