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Prove It

I’m feeling a little guilty today. When I began sharing my writing in October 2020, I knew God placed an urgency inside of me. Pastor Chuck had stepped into Heaven, and it was the responsibility of those left behind to continue his legacy of giving, growing, and going. I knew my writing was meant to stir hearts and possibly make folks a little uncomfortable. I was called to be bold about my faith and set out to do just that.

You’ve heard it said that actions speak louder than words. Over time, my writing has become anecdotes to relate to others. I never wanted to sound “preachy” or seem unapproachable with my message. But today, the nagging urgency of before has rekindled. I need to share what’s on my heart boldly. In doing so, please know that I am writing to you in love and not condemnation, just as Paul exhorted the early church.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians‬ ‭4:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I want to be more like Christ every day. Therefore, I have to address the nature of sin that I see being normalized in the world around me. Dear friend, living for God is black and white. There is right and there is wrong. No in-between exists. We cannot take one portion of scripture as truth and refuse other portions. When the canon of scripture was established, God was there. It was His intention that HIS-story be told through the Bible. We know that with God there are no accidents.

Unfortunately, humanism has led us to believe that we can choose our own truth. And because of free will, we have that ability. This has been a popular belief for many Christians. And it’s wrong. Who are we to determine absolute truth and justice? Is not the God of the universe the Author of truth and justice? By suggesting that everyone can determine their own “right way,” we are ignoring the absolute truth of God.

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs‬ ‭16:25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Another form of this partial truth says “I don’t live under the law; I live under grace.” This is misleading because Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abandon it. We must take the law as guidance for living and proof of God’s faithfulness. The books of the Old Testament are just as relevant today as they were when Jesus walked the earth. There are specific items in the Old Testament that are considered an abomination today. The New Testament may refer to these things with different terminology, replacing specific details with the word “immorality.” Old Testament or New, it’s still sin. 

If we really believe what the Bible says, we must understand that God’s truth is higher than our own. Unless our truth lines up with the word of God, it is false belief and will ultimately lead us into the pits of eternal death.

When Jesus was brought to Pilate before He was crucified, Pilate asked Him, “What is truth.” As believers, we know that Jesus Himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We cannot have relationship with the Father unless we are in relationship with His Son.

The last bit of my message to you today, friend, is simply to take God at His Word. We know all scripture is inspired by God and is living and breathing. But do we heed the warning about altering scripture?

And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. Revelation‬ ‭22:18-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are specifically warned to recognize the Bible as the only Word of God. At the end of the day, His Word is the only truth. Everything else is just noise. Do your actions show the truth of who you are as a Christian? Does your truth line up with the truth of God, which is Jesus Christ? Have you added or omitted things to make your own truth? What is truth?  Once you have been set free in the Truth, be ready to prove it by the way you live.

© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

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