What We Choose to Believe

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

My friend was my friend because they told me the truth. Many want to be friends by telling positive and encouraging words that only agree with my desires… but do not correlate with the truth. A friend would not let me walk away from what’s right.

The motto of my grandson’s school is, ‘when you have the choice between what’s right and what’s kind, always choose what’s kind.’ Sounds wonderful on its surface, but when I repeated it to my class yesterday, I was encouraged by their response… immediately several spoke out that it was dangerous. They said just making people feel good about themselves only encourages them to walk further from what is right and true and into a dark place of selfishness. We need to hear the truth, even if it hurts at first. No matter how painful it is to hear the truth, it is far less painful than the hardships we run towards when we live in deception.

It does not matter what you believe or reject, your opinion has no bearing on the truth. Therefore, you either conform to it or you walk towards despair. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life… no one comes to the Father but by me… ‘The Truth’” (John 14:6). This is a claim He willingly died for… and was proven right by His resurrection… for which there is more evidence then your own existence.

Many have walked away from Jesus, the truth, for personal and selfish reasons. Reasons they tried to justify by cloaking them in spiritual terms and rationalizing (or deceiving) themselves that God was leading them; when in truth they were only following the desires of their own hearts.

It’s not hard to see this if your heart is bent towards God… having fixed your eyes on Jesus, who is authoring a faith in you; and who has suffered much on your behalf, and is fighting for you each moment of each day. If your heart is bent towards satisfying the desires of your heart, even what I am writing will seem ridiculous to you.

If only you would step back from your circumstances and ask some honest questions… ones like, “why am I really doing this?”, or “who am I trying to please, myself or God?”, and “is this right or am I deceived?”  If you have moved far enough from God that you can’t do this on your own, please listen to the ones God is bringing into your life to speak the truth to your heart… your life depends on it! Even if it causes pain now… at least you will be on track to ‘come to the Father’ who is offering peace and an eternity with Him… through His Son Jesus, the Christ.

Hope has a name… it is Jesus. Place your trust in Him and give up your own fateful desires, and you will know, “healing for your body and strength for your bones.” (Proverbs 3:8)

Choose wisely…

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But if you…”

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.”

(2 Timothy 4:3-4; Psalms 37:3-6)

 

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.


Think About This: “When you forget mercy, you name yourself as righteous and deserving, and you live an entitled and demanding life.” ― Paul David Tripp

The Daily Bible Reading: Galatians 1 | You can download our 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. –John 15:5

Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?

Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.

LEARN MORE

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories