The online Bible teaching
ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
January
26,
2022
Going skating
We came up behind this buggie of Amish youth on
a cold Sunday afternoon between Mount Joy and Manheim.
They were probably headed to youth group since they meet
on Sunday afternoons after their church services. They
must have been very cold but I suppose they bundle up
well. Looks like he's going ice skating. Perhaps the
ladies have their skates in the seat! I am especially
intrigued by the symmetry of the shadow of the wagon
wheels. (This is a photo taken on the "fly" by
Brooksyne as we were preparing to pass them.)
"Speaking
The Truth"
Message
summary: The Lord’s truth
and declaration of what is right remains a steadfast rock
in the ever shifting sands of that which we're exposed to.
We have this truth expressed to us in the Holy Scriptures,
which is an absolute foundation of dependability!
Listen to this message on your audio player.
Listen to this message on your audio player.
“I, the
Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right” (Isaiah
45:19). "You love evil rather than good, falsehood
rather than speaking the truth" (Psalm
52:3).
Often I find
myself muttering "Stop lying to me!" as my response to so
many sources of deceitful input in my life. (Brooksyne's
note: It's not always "muttering" sometimes it's
"yelling"!) For instance an email courteously
informing me my extended auto warranty is about to run
out. Well, I never had an extended warranty on my
automobile so how can it run out!
My email
caches most of these and places them in a separate folder
for review (which I rarely do) but I looked today and saw
several attempts at trickery such as one from "The WEBER
Clans Gather" which looked interesting since my last name
is Weber but alas, surprise, surprise it had nothing to do
with my family gathering.*
Someone is
constantly trying to trick and deceive me in one way or
another, which makes this Biblical counsel so timeless,
"Let no
one deceive you with empty words" (Ephesians
5:6).
"I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments" (Colossians 2:4).
"Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
"I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments" (Colossians 2:4).
"Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
We are
increasingly subjected to lies; big lies and little lies;
lies in government, business, media, and politics; lies in
personal relationships and so many lies over the internet.
And it will only get worse as people drift farther and
farther from the ancient, firm foundation of God’s laws
revealed to us through the Ten Commandments, specifically
the ninth commandment which states, "Thou shall not
bear false witness" (Exodus 20:16).
It is absolutely essential that we stay on our guard to determine who is lying and who is telling the truth by practicing discernment. We become wise in our discernment through prayer, biblical understanding, and by observing the character of one who is either telling the truth or lying. When confronted with two opposing stories by a youngster at school, the teacher will lean toward the one who has an honest reputation from day to day.
We need to equip ourselves with God’s truth to defend ourselves against the ever-increasing onslaught of cunning lies. We seek to live with God’s perspective and want to see the human condition through the filter of what is written in the Scriptures.
In the early chapters of Romans we have a panoramic view of man’s fallen, sinful condition. Three times the Greek phrase ta alatheia is used, which translates specifically “the truth” (the definite article is very important). These verses describe man’s attitude toward the truth. It is written concerning the human race, that they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (1:18), ”exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (1:25) and “reject the truth and follow evil” (2:8).
I readily see all three of these responses to the truth in our age;
Today as you are confronted with these attitudes in the workplace, in the political arena, through the media certainly, including social media or in your own family, observe how this takes place and be on guard. When we first hear a lie it takes little discernment, for we quickly recognize it to be false. But when that same lie is repeated often, given a different spin, dressed up or promoted by famous personalities or someone who is asserted to be an "academic" or “educated” or an "expert" we can let our guard down. We can gradually become desensitized or indifferent to the truth. It’s one of Satan’s strategies in making our world more and more decadent. It’s also the reason why we must be vigilant in reading God’s Word so that our continual exposure to God’s truths keep us guarded against error, recognizing light from darkness.
Isaiah 45:19 is a majestic statement from the one true God. Although written in Scripture some 2,700 years ago it is always a present tense statement, for God does not change: “I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.”
The Lord’s truth and declaration of what is right remains a steadfast rock in the ever shifting sands of that which we're exposed to. We have this truth expressed to us in the Holy Scriptures, which is an absolute foundation of dependability!
It is absolutely essential that we stay on our guard to determine who is lying and who is telling the truth by practicing discernment. We become wise in our discernment through prayer, biblical understanding, and by observing the character of one who is either telling the truth or lying. When confronted with two opposing stories by a youngster at school, the teacher will lean toward the one who has an honest reputation from day to day.
We need to equip ourselves with God’s truth to defend ourselves against the ever-increasing onslaught of cunning lies. We seek to live with God’s perspective and want to see the human condition through the filter of what is written in the Scriptures.
In the early chapters of Romans we have a panoramic view of man’s fallen, sinful condition. Three times the Greek phrase ta alatheia is used, which translates specifically “the truth” (the definite article is very important). These verses describe man’s attitude toward the truth. It is written concerning the human race, that they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (1:18), ”exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (1:25) and “reject the truth and follow evil” (2:8).
I readily see all three of these responses to the truth in our age;
1)
Suppression of the truth
2) Exchanging truth for lies
3) Rejecting truth for evil.
2) Exchanging truth for lies
3) Rejecting truth for evil.
Today as you are confronted with these attitudes in the workplace, in the political arena, through the media certainly, including social media or in your own family, observe how this takes place and be on guard. When we first hear a lie it takes little discernment, for we quickly recognize it to be false. But when that same lie is repeated often, given a different spin, dressed up or promoted by famous personalities or someone who is asserted to be an "academic" or “educated” or an "expert" we can let our guard down. We can gradually become desensitized or indifferent to the truth. It’s one of Satan’s strategies in making our world more and more decadent. It’s also the reason why we must be vigilant in reading God’s Word so that our continual exposure to God’s truths keep us guarded against error, recognizing light from darkness.
Isaiah 45:19 is a majestic statement from the one true God. Although written in Scripture some 2,700 years ago it is always a present tense statement, for God does not change: “I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.”
The Lord’s truth and declaration of what is right remains a steadfast rock in the ever shifting sands of that which we're exposed to. We have this truth expressed to us in the Holy Scriptures, which is an absolute foundation of dependability!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, I
pray for a discerning spirit to help me recognize
truth from falsehood, so that I know when I am
being lied to. I also search my own heart lest I
myself speak falsehoods to others or even to
myself. Help me to see if there is any form of
deceit or dishonesty that others might see from my
words or actions. Father, You always speak the
truth and show us in Scripture that which is right
from that which is wrong. When the world describes
a lifestyle or belief system to be good that You
declare to be evil, help me to stand firm upon
Your holy truths. Give me bold conviction to
stand firm for truth no matter what. The “truths”
as purported by this world shift like the changing
winds but Your Truths stand for all eternity!
Amen.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, I
pray for a discerning spirit to help me recognize
truth from falsehood, so that I know when I am
being lied to. I also search my own heart lest I
myself speak falsehoods to others or even to
myself. Help me to see if there is any form of
deceit or dishonesty that others might see from my
words or actions. Father, You always speak the
truth and show us in Scripture that which is right
from that which is wrong. When the world describes
a lifestyle or belief system to be good that You
declare to be evil, help me to stand firm upon
Your holy truths. Give me bold conviction to
stand firm for truth no matter what. The “truths”
as purported by this world shift like the changing
winds but Your Truths stand for all eternity!
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"The
Voice Of Truth" Video
Casting Crowns
*
I learned something else today in examining
this folder; legitimate email I have signed
up for and would want to read are being
placed in it and based on the topics I
suspect it's a form of censorship. One is a
daily mission letter from Mission network
News I have received for many years. We have
also been aware on some systems our Daily
Encouragement messages are placed in a
folder like this.
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