Enemies of Truth - Part 3

This is the last part of a devotional on enemies of truth written by Rebecca Vandoodewaard.

3. We are enemies of truth when we misrepresent the gospel. This could be to our family, our church, or those outside of it. This sort of skewed picture could come from apathy, fear of conflict, or abuse of authority. Of course, we will always represent the gospel imperfectly, often unknowingly. But a conscious decision to do and say things - or a conscious failure to do and say things - in a way that facilitates a misunderstanding of Christ's person and work places us in opposition to the truth. That is sobering indeed.

The fact that we will always sin while in the body does not diminish the seriousness of these dangers. Our mortality, our struggle with our sinful nature, does not absolve us from the responsibility to obey or from consequences when we fail. In fact, since we have the strength of the Spirit and the mind of Christ, we are able to be allies of the truth as it renews our hearts and minds.

This devotional appeared in the November edition of TableTalk.

Enemies of Truth - Part 2

Continuing with the devotional from Rebecca Vandoodewaard, we look at a second way in which believers can oppose the truth.

2. We are enemies of truth when we hide sin. Perhaps it's a besetting sin, such as anger, that we hide from people outside of our family. Perhaps we're covering up the serious sin of an older child, pastor, or friend: we're afraid of what would happen if we expose the sin, afraid that people will accuse us of not understanding grace if we do. Hiding sin could even extend to preventing biblical justice from taking its course, as in ecclesiastical or civil courts. Believers can do all of these things, and when they do, they facilitate a culture of lies.

Tomorrow, we'll conclude this devotional on enemies of truth.

Enemies of Truth - Part 1

The following is from a devotional published in TableTalk and written by Rebecca Vandoodewaard. When we look for our enemies, sometimes we don't have to look too far.

What comes to mind when you think of someone who is an enemy of the truth? Richard Dawkins? Joseph Smith? Hollywood celebrities? What about a woman at church? Your brother? You?

An older Christian once warned me, "Even Christians can be enemies of truth." We know that we battle the world, the flesh, and the devil - those are three categories that we can rattle off. But it's easy to think of ourselves in the right camp and others in the wrong one. We make reality black and white in ways that it is not. Thinking of a believer - of ourselves - as someone who can actually oppose truth is deeply sobering. Here are three ways that it can be true.

1. We are enemies of truth when we refuse to hear the truth. This tends to come in two forms: not listening to someone tell the truth or refusing to accept it. Maybe we're not will to take the time to actually hear; other priorities seem more urgent. Maybe we're afraid of what will happen if we do listen; understanding will require humility, repentance, and change. Maybe we do listen and understand, but we refuse to admit that it applies to us. Truth can be uncomfortable. It can mean that we've been wrong. Whether truth comes to us through Scripture reading, through preaching, or through the wounds of a friend, when we treat it like an enemy, we become the enemy.

We'll cove the other ways over the next two posts.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! With that in mind, I found a prayer in the Presbyterian Common Book of Worship. I hope this inspires you to remember the Lord on this day of thanksgiving.

We thank you, O Lord, for all the mercies of every kind, and for your loving care over all your creatures. We bless you for the gift of life, for your protection, for your guiding hand upon us, and for the many tokens of your love within us; especially for the saving knowledge of your dear son, our redeemer; and for the living presence of your spirit, our comforter. We thank you for friendship and responsibility, for good hopes and precious memories, for the joys that cheer us and for the trials that teach us to trust in you. In all these things, make us wise in the right use of your gifts, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'll be taking a couple of days off from posting during the holiday, but I'll be back by the weekend.

Traveling Mercies

For all of those who are traveling for the Thanksgiving holidays, and especially for my son. This was adapted from the 1906 Presbyterian Common Book of Worship:

Lord God, who reigns in the heavens and on the earth; we ask for your guidance and protection for your servant now leaving on his journey. Against all dangers be his strong defense, and be his faithful friend; keep him in health and heart and prosper the ends of his journey. Guard him, we ask you, from all dangers, from sickness, from the violence of enemies, from every evil; and conduct him in safety to his destination with a grateful sense of your mercies, in the firm knowledge that he is yours, through Christ our Lord. Amen

Avoid Foolish Questions

Titus 3:9 - "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless."

The following is from a devotional by Charles Spurgeon:

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse [obscure] points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle’s precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to caviling [complaining], let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to “avoid foolish questions.”

Living by Faith

This devotional comes from a book, Heart of the Matter, and is written by David Powlison. As a side note, several weeks ago David Powlision was diagnosed with 4th stage pancreatic cancer. Based on his more recent writings, he is still relying on the Lord, even with this dire diagnosis, trusting the Lord for comfort and strength. I took a course with Powlison 15 years ago. A three hour class went by in what seemed to be minutes. His wisdom about the human condition was mesmerizing. He's a wonderful, godly man.

This devotional is based on a reading of Psalm 23:

Whatever your future, you are called to live by faith today. Jesus says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34). Jesus wants you to depend on him one day at a time. Learn not to worry about tomorrow. To do this you must meditate on who Jesus is.

More than any other passage, Psalm 23 brought Jesus to life for me in my struggles with fatigue. The psalm is full of promises - he provides, he restores my soul, he is with me, his goodness and mercy pursue me all of my days. Make this psalm your own. Jesus, your good Shepherd, will fill you with confidence. God doesn't meet us the way we want, but he does restore us. No matter what you are facing, you have a Shepherd who is with you, restoring you, and bringing good things - himself - into your life. Learn to trust him, and you truly have something worth living and dying for.