Real Truth - John 8:31-32

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to the people who had believed in Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (NRSV)

The ancient Greek word for ‘truth’ in our Gospels is pronounced ‘aleethia’. It means something that is absolutely free from pretense, deception, falsehood, or corruption. In the New Testament, it is often attributed to the works and ways of God – something that is absolutely certain, a divine reality which cannot be challenged or changed by human guile or caprice. This truth – the real truth – will remain throughout history and continue into the everlasting realm of God. This is why Jesus declares that He is the Truth – the whole and unassailable truth – which cannot be diminished or destroyed. As Christians, then, we are called upon to seek, know, and live by the Truth for only then, as Jesus wisely stated, will we be made free.

Application: Ponder on what truth actually is and let’s ask ourselves – are we living truthful lives?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us to value truth above all else, for only real, divine, and sacred truth can set us free. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship each Sunday at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called ‘Light of Liberty.’. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Light.

Truth Filter - Jeremiah 14:14

Jeremiah 14:14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.” (NIV)

Times were hard for the prophet Jeremiah and his people. They were surrounded by their enemies and the collapse of their community was imminent. God had tried to make His intentions clear by using Jeremiah as His mouthpiece, but the people did not want to hear or embrace the truth. Instead, they listened to lying prophets who were making false claims about their nation and its leaders; they were fooled by religious charlatans who just wanted to preserve their own status and power.

Jeremiah was not popular because his words attacked the unchecked egos of the leaders, as well as the foolishness of the people. No one wanted to be told that they were wrong, especially if it involved humiliation and shame, so God’s people chose to cling to false words and foolish ways simply because their pride was dented and their decisions were delusional. Jeremiah was given words from God that eventually put the prophet’s life in danger, but the Truth is often like that – it causes discomfort, dislike, and disturbance to those who are willing to speak out.

So, today, let’s all think about what is really true and what is blatantly false. Let us ask God for the gift of discernment to recognize His true messengers and to reject false prophets. May we also really ponder over our own current beliefs and decisions by asking ourselves this: is this what God honestly considers to be true or have I foolishly deluded myself?

Point to ponder

How do I decide what is true? Do I base it on my personal feelings or do I filter it through God’s words?

Prayer: Lord God, we live in turbulent times and find ourselves not knowing what truth actually is. Help us to discern between what is fake and authentic. Teach us to beware of those who would tell us lies that we want to hear, instead of the truth You want us to embrace. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called “Light of Liberty.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Light.

August 23 devotion - Fake News

John 8:45 Jesus said, “Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me!” (NIV)

            Personally, I’m tired of the over-used term “Fake news,” because it’s being employed by all types of folks to close down any dialogue or discussion of different opinions. I see it on Facebook, news reports, and newspaper articles all of the time, especially in the comment sections. I thought it was just an American thing, but sadly, I’ve come across it in the Scottish and British newspapers that I read online from time to time. It seems that everybody has their own personal truths about every situation under the sun, and nobody has any time or notion to honestly discuss contrasting viewpoints, ideas, or beliefs.

            ‘Fake news,’ however, isn’t new. In the Gospel passage John 8:38-59, Jesus confronts His opponents by rebuking them for not accepting the truth He was expressing about God. Instead of accepting Him as a genuine source of God’s grace through the miracles and lessons that Christ displayed, some people opted to believe what they wanted to believe, and wouldn’t let Jesus convince them otherwise. I get the feeling that Christ was frustrated by some of them, not because they opposed Him, but because they were missing out on a wonderful opportunity to be embraced by God in a new and encouraging way.

            As Christians, we are expected both by God and the world to be truthful followers of Jesus. We have been given the Gospels to enable us to share God’s gracious blessings with all kinds of folks. If we mix our faith with the trappings of so-called ‘fake news’ or pass on false stories, then our credibility as a religious people is diminished and our reliability as witnesses to Christ is undermined. In other words, we have a responsibility to not only seek the truth but to express and share it with the rest of the world. Our allegiance belongs to God and our devotion as disciples of Christ is owed solely to Him. If we let anything or anyone else get in the way, we become ‘fake news’ messengers, instead of followers of Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Point to ponder

Am I dismissive of other views? Am I willing to listen to contrasting ideas and opinions? Do I accept Christ as the source of Truth?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we live in turbulent times and often seek security in thoughts and people that reflect our own ideas, opinions, and beliefs. Sometimes, we displace You with those very same things. Forgive our fallen and prejudicial ways. Help us to seek Your guidance and truth for our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you have any questions or feedback for John, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Eclipso Calypso.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Calypso.

Christian devotion - Fake News - John 8:45

John 8:45 Jesus said, “Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me!” (NIV)

            Personally, I’m tired of the over-used term “Fake news,” because it’s being employed by all types of folks to close down any dialogue or discussion of different opinions. I see it on Facebook, news reports, and newspaper articles all of the time, especially in the comment sections. I thought it was just an American thing, but sadly, I’ve come across it in the Scottish and British newspapers that I read online from time to time. It seems that everybody has their own personal truths about every situation under the sun, and nobody has any time or notion to honestly discuss contrasting viewpoints, ideas, or beliefs.

            ‘Fake news,’ however, isn’t new. In the Gospel passage John 8:38-59, Jesus confronts His opponents by rebuking them for not accepting the truth He was expressing about God. Instead of accepting Him as a genuine source of God’s grace through the miracles and lessons that Christ displayed, some people opted to believe what they wanted to believe, and wouldn’t let Jesus convince them otherwise. I get the feeling that Christ was frustrated by some of them, not because they opposed Him, but because they were missing out on a wonderful opportunity to be embraced by God in a new and encouraging way.

            As Christians, we are expected both by God and the world to be truthful followers of Jesus. We have been given the Gospels to enable us to share God’s gracious blessings with all kinds of folks. If we mix our faith with the trappings of so-called ‘fake news’ or pass on false stories, then our credibility as a religious people is diminished and our reliability as witnesses to Christ is undermined. In other words, we have a responsibility to not only seek the truth but to express and share it with the rest of the world. Our allegiance belongs to God and our devotion as disciples of Christ is owed solely to Him. If we let anything or anyone else get in the way, we become ‘fake news’ messengers, instead of followers of Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Point to ponder

Am I dismissive of other views? Am I willing to listen to contrasting ideas and opinions? Do I accept Christ as the source of Truth?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we live in turbulent times and often seek security in thoughts and people that reflect our own ideas, opinions, and beliefs. Sometimes, we displace You with those very same things. Forgive our fallen and prejudicial ways. Help us to seek Your guidance and truth for our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you have any questions or feedback for John, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Eclipso Calypso.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Calypso.