Skip to main content

Day Thirteen of Seeking

It's time to get real! As we have walked through the process of repentance and restitution, the next thing that is imperative is truth. It's time that we understand the only way to walk in continued cleansing before the Lord is to be honest with that person you see in the mirror. After all, at the end of the day, we MUST be able to feel good about what we see.

Not too many years ago, our nation was reeling with accusations against one of our leaders. The accusation, if real was unfaithfulness to marriage vows on the leader's part and would be grounds for divorce in most courts. However, as shameful and debase as the act was, the lie that followed it was worse. There on the television, the leader was denying a sexual act, first outright denial, then a parsing of words...after all "the answer to that question is that depends on what your definition of "is" is.

It was foolish to believe that parsing words would be okay, but even worse was all of those who felt like it was no big deal.

Too often the church allows this same type of behavior to take place in the pulpit and the pew. God will never grace a place with His Presence where falsehood rules. The church must be HONEST, we must be PURE and we must demonstrate to fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) in every action and every word.

Whether you are honest or not IS important. It is important to those you interact with, but its also important for your own good...your own ethical standards. It determines whether you have character.

A half truth is still a lie and parsing words is just plain wrong. Remember, "(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and TRUTH; (Ephesians 5:9)


As we continue into our 21 Days of Seeking, it's time for us to "get real." We must be honest and tell the truth..even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Come Down From That Ivory Tower

Hebrews 11 has become known as the "Hall of Faith." The reason is quite simple. The writer spends a great deal of time giving a role call of the heroes of the faith. After all, this chapter is about faith, and what better way to teach faith than to illustrate with some real-life examples. Mos of the people in this chapter are well-known, at least by anyone who spent time squirming in a Sunday School class as a small child, or who watched the late-night movies on the local channels featuring their stories. Who were they? Abel, Enoch and Noah. Abel pleased God with his excellent offering, Enoch was so close to God that he actually walked with God to the point that one evening, while walking God said to Enoch, "we are closer to my house than we are yours, so why don't you just go home with me?" Of course, Noah built an ark (according to God's instructions) that saved mankind from total destruction. Then there was Abraham...the father of the faithful. He...

A question about your church...

This last few days I have been in the State of Kentucky. I came here with my wife, whose father was having medical tests as of the results of a probable heart attack. He seems to be doing well (as of tonight) and is scheduled for one more test, then hopefully he will be released and further treatments to bring him to health. While this is a scary moment for my wife's family it has also been a time to step away from the daily work and observe others around us. Since Debra's father is a pastor (Church of God of Prophecy, Central City, KY) there have been visits from the State Presiding Bishop, Scott Gillum, area pastors and of course some of his church members. It is heartening to watch the love and concern that is show by those visiting. There has also been quite a few of Debra's extended family here, along with her younger brother and his family. I've watch the nurses and technicians at the Owensboro Medical Center demonstrate concern and what seems to be good care...

On my way to a resurrection

Someone asked, "Are you on your way to another funeral?"  My answer was, "No, I am on my way to a resurrection."  Tonight, after having preached my sister's funeral, two church members funerals and visiting a friend whose brother had passed away, I had a little quiet time in my home office.  As I often do, I reach for an old book  I've found that some books written long ago can speak to my heart.  This time, it was a book published in 1946.  This passage from J.B. Chapman touched my heart, hope it does yours too.  Victor Hugo exclaimed, "The frosts of seventy winters are on my head, but the springtime of eternal youth is in my heart." "Sometimes we look at the gray hair of a ripening saint, and say, "Old man, the frosts of many winters are on your head."  But he answers, "That is not frost.  I am getting ready to wear the crown of life, and my hair is taking on tint agreeable to the color scheme."   We say, "Ol...