Ephesians 5:6, 8 (HCSB): “Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
How do we walk as “children of light?” There are many smooth, gregarious speakers today that publicize their seminars and conferences on how to be successful in life. They tout you can have it all and then some. They seem to make sense. However, their core beliefs are not Biblical. They speak more about happiness than about dealing with sin. They may teach just enough truth to mask their heresy and often add to scripture. This is just what was going on in Corinth that Paul had to warn and address with the church as he stated in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4: “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the Serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”
I was involved in two separate conversations recently where the person sitting across the table from me stated their opinion that the Bible was not interpreted correctly from the original Hebrew language. In one instance it was disputed about a certain word used to prophesy in the Old Testament how Jesus would appear as the Messiah. I went home to do my research to properly answer this correctly since I have never run into this precise argument before. Up popped a well-known and trusted Biblically based resource organization and a woman named “Jeanie” appeared to the side of the screen to “chat.” She asked me how she could help. I explained the question I needed to be answered to properly speak truth to both of these opportunities. Jeanie put it very simply: “It is a smokescreen; a way to avoid talking about his sins forgiven by Jesus. It really is all about Jesus.” Then she pointed me to “gotQuestions?org” besides their website that contains more concise facts based on Scripture to answer these questions and others further. It was just what I needed.
What do you do with Jesus? That is the simple question and answer. It all goes back to Jesus Christ.
Don’t believe someone just because he sounds like an authority on any philosophical subject. The Bible should be our authoritative guide. The Bible is God’s infallible word. Anyone teaching anything different is misleading and mistaken no matter how sincere they may be.
Paul was not a spellbinding speaker. But he was a brilliant thinker. Paul had not been trained in the Greek schools of oratory and speechmaking as the false teachers in his day had been. Same goes for you and me. Don’t we always worry we won’t sound intelligent or good enough during progressive, opposing conversations regarding spiritual matters with someone who may be an atheist or agnostic? But we can absorb the truth found in God’s word, and be ready to speak the truth by the power of the Holy Spirit, who will guide our mouths in speaking the right words. It is not all up to us. Content is more important than presentation.
Questions:
- What does Isaiah 7:14 and then Matthew 1:18, 22-23 prove?
- How can you walk in the light that God has revealed to you today?
- What answers to prayers can you share with someone who is not a Christian? You have a story to tell, and it is your story that Jesus is carving out in His purpose for your life.
Have Hosea 13:4a close at hand when facing impossibilities or feeling intimidation of others strong words questioning your faith in God: “But I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt.” In your devotional journal write out the following: “I am the LORD your God who brought you out of ______________.” Hold that close when Satan tries to whisper those lies of doubt as he has done to Eve and up through today.
Ask God to help you see your life the way He sees it. That will help remove the mystery and replace discouraging pangs of inadequacy with joy and increase your hope and faith in our all-powerful God, the great I AM. How I need to do that again and again.
My Prayer: O dear Lord, I feel so ineloquent. I am a deep thinker but not a quick talker. May the Holy Spirit use His words to speak truth through me in conversations to bring glory to Jesus Christ and turn on the light bulb with someone I am conversing with throughout my day regarding my faith. Help me to see your hand print in every person I encounter. In Jesus name, Amen.
Search out Casting Crowns song “Voice of Truth” on YouTube to listen to today after reading this devotional.