Truth At Work
I have recently picked up a copy of Conversation, which is 'The Message' translation of the Bile with Eugene Peterson's comments and notes. Great stuff!
In John 8, Jesus said that 'you will experience for yourself the truth, and the truth will set you free'. Powerful words to be sure. Its not just knowing the truth, it is experiencing truth that makes the difference. And once truth begins to work within us, it creates an appetite for more truth. It becomes freeing in our lives to let truth invade into more and more of our lives. We truly become free people.
When I let the insanity of the world, get exposed to truth, and then apply it, I face the challenge to let truth work in me, or to continue to live under false assumptions. My choice; but as I choose truth, I find I become free!
Just prior to these awesome words of Jesus, he opens a window into his humanity. Verse 18, speaks of Jesus judgement or decision process on a matter 'I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience, but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father.' We let so many of our decisions, opinions and values be shaped by our experience. That becomes our framework of truth. But is it really true? We think our opinions are true, otherwise we would not hold on to them. Is everything we believe true? If not, then what part is true? We think our relationships are based on truth, but many times we painfully discover hidden agendas, and false expectations.
These are hard questions and issues, and tells us that we really must let God's Word become active within us, and become our experience. When truth is at work within us, it causes us to become free people.
In John 8, Jesus said that 'you will experience for yourself the truth, and the truth will set you free'. Powerful words to be sure. Its not just knowing the truth, it is experiencing truth that makes the difference. And once truth begins to work within us, it creates an appetite for more truth. It becomes freeing in our lives to let truth invade into more and more of our lives. We truly become free people.
When I let the insanity of the world, get exposed to truth, and then apply it, I face the challenge to let truth work in me, or to continue to live under false assumptions. My choice; but as I choose truth, I find I become free!
Just prior to these awesome words of Jesus, he opens a window into his humanity. Verse 18, speaks of Jesus judgement or decision process on a matter 'I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience, but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father.' We let so many of our decisions, opinions and values be shaped by our experience. That becomes our framework of truth. But is it really true? We think our opinions are true, otherwise we would not hold on to them. Is everything we believe true? If not, then what part is true? We think our relationships are based on truth, but many times we painfully discover hidden agendas, and false expectations.
These are hard questions and issues, and tells us that we really must let God's Word become active within us, and become our experience. When truth is at work within us, it causes us to become free people.