"LIVING YOUR TRUTH"

                                                    by Jesse A. Flowers

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
A modern expression that seems to be gaining in popularity and acceptance is: "Live your truth." What does that mean exactly? Writer Carly Victoria expressed it this way: "To live in your truth simply means to live as your most authentic self, doing things daily that bring you happiness and joy, living as true to yourself as possible." Kamal Ravikant, author of the book, Live Your Truth, stated: "Whatever human endeavor we choose, as long as we live our truth, it is success." In other words, to "live your truth" suggests that truth is subjective and relative; that truth is personal for each individual; to live your truth is all about YOU; it's whatever you think, feel, desire, and makes you happy; it can evolve over time; and you are your own standard.

Granted, the expression may be new, but the mindset is quite ancient. "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). "And the LORD said, 'Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them'" (Jeremiah 9:13-14).

The Bible calls us to live God's truth, not our own. After all, it is His Word that is truth and that sanctifies us. Jesus declared to Satan: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4). As Christ stood before Pontius Pilate, He stated: "For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37).

Deep Roots

by Shane Williams

Have you ever tried to remove a tree or stump from your yard? How about something as simple as a big bush? Where I grew up in California, a quarter of our front yard was full of Junipers. We decided to replace them with a lawn and I still remember how much work was involved for that to be accomplished. Even with shovels, and axe, lots of rope and a half-ton pickup, it was still a whole lot of work! Who would have thought it would be so difficult? I sure did not. Strong, deep roots had anchored those bushes firmly in the ground.

In the Bible, godly people are often likened to trees with strong deep roots (Psalm 1:3; Prov. 12:3; Jer. 17:7-8).

The branches of growing trees not only reach higher, but their roots grow deeper. It’s impossible for a strong tree to have high branches without having deep roots. It would become top-heavy and topple over in the wind.

The same is true with Christians. It’s not possible for us to grow in the Lord without interweaving our roots around His Word and deepening our life in His instructions.

Would you like to be a tall, immovable tree? That comes only through a life of Bible study, discipline, and faith - conditions that produce deep roots

Risking Everything for the Lord

Jeff Curtis

A lot of what Jesus taught was startling, even shocking, to those who first heard what He had to teach. Such was the case with the parable of the talents.

Jesus spoke this parable to teach His disciples that they were to stay busy while they waited for His return. It was recorded through the guidance of the Holy Spirit because, along with the apostles, all followers of the Lord need to be reminded of this. Matthew wrote his Gospel account 30 years or so after the church was established. Exciting things were still happening. Paul was probably making his final journeys after his release from prison, ad other Christians were spreading the gospel. But enough time had to produce a second generation of Christians. Probably some congregations had lost their initial zeal and had settled into a comfortable week to week existence (notice Rev. 3:15). This parable of the talents was intended as a wake-up call for the first century Christians. Such a message is still needed for Christians today.

How do we feel about taking risks? Most of us probably prefer to eliminate risks from our everyday lives. We like, as much as possible, to have a risk-free existence. That being the case, the idea of taking risks for the Lord may not be appealing to some. Nevertheless, this parable teaches that we should do just that to please our Master.

The parable begins with the master giving his servants responsibilities that involved a major risk. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is “like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own servants…” (Matt.25:14). The word used is a plural form of the Greek word for slave. These were “his own slaves”: He owned them; they belonged to him.

To receive maximum impact from this parable, we need to see ourselves as God’s slaves, as those who belong to Him. Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own” For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body” (1Cor. 6:19-10). We were purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28), redeemed (“bought back”) by that blood (1Peter 1:18-19). “When one comes forth from the liquid grave of baptism, he enters into a fellowship over the threshold of which is clearly inscribed, ‘You are not your own. You have been bought with a price.’” (The Characteristics of a Good Steward,” The Preacher’s Periodical (July 1983).

The master gave to “each according to his own ability” (Matt.25:15). No one was given more than they could handle, and no one was given less than he was capable of managing. Everyone received something.

As recipients of God’s gifts, we should understand that those gifts include a challenge. God says to us, in effect, “As those who belong to Me, you are to use these in My service. I am entrusting them to you for a short while. In the meantime, you are to use them to benefit MY cause.” When the Master bestows a gift, a responsibility is attached.

Using what God gives – abilities, time, possessions, and opportunities – involves taking risks. The risk of making a mistake, the risk of being criticized, even the risk of failure.