Truth

I have a question, are you seeking man’s praise or God’s Truth?  Many times it is not what you want to hear that’s important, it is what you need to hear and hide in your heart: they are the things that will change your lives.  Sadness lies ahead for those who chase after the crowd’s praise rather than God’s truth.

There are so many today that teach and preach what people want to hear because they are afraid to offend someone or just because they want to be popular.  Jesus spoke about His true children in John 8:31-32 He said, “If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed; and you know the truth and the truth will make you free.”  Many times we hear things that make us feel good but do nothing to change our lives.  

This reminds me of the inspirational speakers, they inspire you and get you all excited but do very little to change one’s life.  There is only one thing that will change your life and that is when you hear the Truth and then act on what you hear.  Inspiration can get you all emotional, give you goose bumps and even bring tears to your eyes while you are listening, but it is like a shot in the arm that you need to get week after week just to keep you going.  This reminds me of the alcoholic that needs another drink to function or the drug addict that needs another hit.  I am not saying that these people don’t give you some Truth but many times they leave out the most important Truths that you need to hear.  The problem with just being inspired is that it may emotionally move you to tears but it will be worldly sorrow, and not godly sorrow which you need to be changed.  

Paul spoke on this subject in 2 Corinthians 7:8–11, “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”

When the Truth is heard it opens the door, so to speak, for the Holy Spirit’s conviction in our lives.  The conviction of the Holy Spirit is so important, without it we will never repent and get right with the Lord.  Worldly sorrow is just being sorry that we got caught in the act instead of being sorry for what we did.  Worldly sorrow only brings pain misery and, in the end, death.   

I realize that we need to hear encouraging messages at times with all that is going on in our lives and all around us, but they need to be the Truth.  Personally, I can’t stand it when teachers and preachers water down sermons and try to make people laugh while they are preaching or teaching.  If you feel that you need to entertain and make people laugh do it before or after your message.  I realize that the joy of the Lord is our strength, but we need to set time aside for godly sorrow also.  If all we do is laugh and carry on we may miss completely what the Lord wants to accomplish in our lives.  

I’ve written on this before but I think it is one of those lessons we need to hear over and over again.  This is something we all need to think about and pray about and not take lightly.  God bless and have a great day.