THURSDAY: ACCEPTING GOD’S TRUTH

Oct 6, 2022
2 min read

Lord, please show me today the value of accepting Your truth. I don’t wish to harden my heart to You by creating my own truth; let Your truth shine in my heart today.

2 Timothy 4:3-5

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

I see people refusing to believe biblical truths, or sound doctrine, all the time. They prefer to create their own truth, and therefore their own theology, their own idea of God and of who they are.

In doing so, they turn their ears away from the truth and begin to believe myths about God, themselves, and the world around them. One of the biggest myths people believe is that since God is a loving God, He will tolerate sin. Let’s be clear: God hates sin but provides a solution. He asks that I believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, who can wash away my sin. Then He brings the Holy Spirit into my life, who will quench my desire to sin.

Paul’s instructions to Timothy are instructions I also need to heed. It is important that I keep my head in all situations. While situations are different in many aspects, they all have the ability to distract me and make me angry and anxious, which will test whether I respond in grace or not. Not responding in grace can make the situation worse; responding in grace while acknowledging God’s truth will allow me to be a peacemaker.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: People begin to have hardened hearts when they reject God’s truth; I need to anticipate and expect that. People with hardened hearts have trouble understanding God’s message of love; their hearts can soften as I demonstrate God’s love and grace to them.

This isn’t an easy task or calling, but in doing so, I’m doing the work of an evangelist and enduring hardship in the process. I can only do this through God’s strength. Just as the passage states that those who refute God’s truth will assemble a great number of teachers to listen to; it will also help if I have other Christian friends who believe God’s truth to help me listen to God and minister to others. Lord, I am surrounded by many who seem to be turning away from You and believing myths about sin, grace, and truth. Please guide me and protect my heart, so I continue to believe Your truth; also give me the ability and opportunity to tell others Your truth.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman