Tag: #CompromisedTruth

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Compromised Truth – Part 2

Compromised Truth leads to disrespect of self and others as we navigate through life our way. It’s an attack against God’s character of authenticity for us and, therefore, hinders blessings that come from stewarding God’s genuine nature in us.

We must put God first, cultivate an intimate relationship with Him and trust Him enough to make Him our supreme authority. We must hear God’s voice above all others, even above our communities with parents, spouses, bosses, friends, counselors, pastors, prophets, etc. If any people in our lives advise or expect us to do anything outside of God’s will, we can still choose God’s way. We can realize that even the well-meaning can operate in an opposing spirit to the life God has for us. Forgive them and move on.

We can choose to distance ourselves from opposing voices, if necessary, while coming closer to God. In cases where we cannot totally distance ourselves, such as in child-parent relationships or employee-boss relationships, we can still run to God in prayer, seek His protection and guidance, declare His truth over our lives and wait out greater freedom.

This is what twelve-year-old Jesus did in Luke 2:41-52 AMPC when He went and stayed in the temple of God for three days to pursue Father’s Presence, while His parents knew not where He was (vs 46). In the midst of His parents’ “custom” to visit Jerusalem, during the Passover season, young Jesus didn’t want to leave His spiritual feast. Jesus wasn’t afraid of the power of His True Father. He was drawn to Him. At the outset, Jesus chose this as His “necessary” high purpose and priority above returning home with His earthly parents (vs 42, 49). Verse 52 reveals the result of Jesus putting Father God first and pursuing His truth by saying, “And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.” 

In this light, when we pursue God as truth above all else, He increases His wisdom in us as He grows us to be wise, like Him. And He increases our favor with Him and man (Lk 2:52). This righteous priority translates into us experiencing the increased victory of salvation, even in our families, that Jesus died to give us on earth as it is in Heaven. Luke 2:51 says that Jesus’ “mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart” as He explained His whereabouts and purpose to her.  

I have learned that, as I have gone out to do the work our Lord sent me to do with Him, He has blessed my family and myself in eternal ways that only He could. So, like young Jesus, when we make Father God our eternal life source above all else, including family, we will see the fullness of life He has for us and others; andunderstand it, both in practical ways and through His Spirit of Revelation.

Jesus is our best family member and our greatest champion. He looks out for us in truth and glory. He says in John 14:2 AMPC that “In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.” 

Jesus desires that we live an authentic life abiding in Him. We do this by firmly deciding He, as part of the Holy Trinity, is Lord of our lives and determine to walk it out, not letting anyone or anything pull us away, including any other relationships.

As the world around us strives to get ahead, we must look to God and align with His truth, which is that He will give us the things He put in our hearts when we come to appreciate Him first, above all else (Matt 6:33). 

So, pray with me if you will:

Dear Lord, 

Your truth is better than anything. Thank You that it sets me free from decline, as I incline my heart toward You. I humbly turn to You and ask You to deliver me from unholy compromise. Rid me of fear, of masking Your truth and authenticity in me and of the unholy mixture of man’s ways. Help me rightly divide the truth and priority of Your prevailing Word. Help me walk in it and live out the fullness of life You have for me in the earth, as I learn to rest in You, while working alongside You. Help me to walk out Exodus 33:13 AMPC, which says, “…if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight…” Lord, help me to live in a way that glorifies you abundantly and enables me to experience Your wisdom and beauty in my life-journey with You (Ep 1:17). Thank You that I don’t have to be afraid but that I can trust You to help me live out Your life-plan for me, knowing that You judge fairly (De 3:16, 1 Pe 2:23).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Compromised Truth – Part 1

Just like a bad attitude results from the delay and disappointment of distractions, annoyances result from the false realities of lies, regardless of intentionality. Both distractions and lies are door-openers to the enemy to drain us of peace and pace in our victory runs. The enemy is all about covert and overt lies.

Walking out a false reality is where we feel like nothing good works for us. That’s because we’re working our plan, not God’s. Many times, we can be too deceived to realize we’re doing the wrong thing, especially since our ways feel so familiar.

A couple of weeks ago, our Lord gave me a revelation that some of our most enduring annoyances result from relationships in which God’s truth is compromised. Much of it is done, out of fear of man and by masking our Godly identity and character. This false shield works against our shield of faith and postures us to believe lies, speak lies and exhibit false impressions. Little wonder why we don’t get ahead sometimes.

I believe God is highlighting this issue, because He’s about to remove some of these major annoyances in our lives. I believe we are coming to the end of some sufferings, since last-season’s patient endurance has had its developmental work in us for the new season we’re in now (Ja 1:4, 1 Pe 5:9-11, Is 61:3).

God has seen us try our best to respond His way to the troubles that have come our way by trusting Him, blessing our enemies and moving forward (Lk 6:28, 1 Co 4:12). God has met us there.

This model is based on one Jesus set for us in 1 Peter 2:23 AMPC, which says, “When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly.”

Jesus is “the perfect expression of the truth” in its integrity and sincerity of character (Vine’s Dictionary). His truth means what is “ideal” and “genuine” (Strong’s #228). “Unconcealed” and “manifest” (Strong’s #227). This makes sense, since we know that He was God who “came down from Heaven” and revealed Himself in flesh (living bread) (Jn 6:51).

Likewise, whenever God calls us out and away to fulfill a mission with Him for His glory, it’s also for our benefit. Even if we don’t see how, we are to just go. Abraham is a great example. God instructed him to depart from his family’s house and go to where God would send him. We are all called to the Great Commission where, as we go, God will take care of our families and deliver us from evil and into His greater promises.

This requires courage.

If we shrink back and remain in a state of compromise, not only do we live at a lower level than God intended, we live in agreement with demonic activity. Over time, this can change our personalities, as confusion and resentment settle in. Until, by God’s grace, we see the light of His truth and firmly decide to obey Him, our realities won’t change much for the better.

We see this play out in the Israelite community-at-large, who died in the desert, just short of their Promised Land. They realized too late that their unbelief in God’s truth led to death. Only a fraction of the community believed and carried the predominant Spirit of Truth into their fullness of divine promise. The former carried power in number, but it was their own power—a lesser power than God’s grace-power operating through the few who went where they were sent.

Sadly, this community-at-large brought it on themselves, even though they were forewarned by God and Moses to make righteous choices.

Deuteronomy 30:19 AMPC says, “I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live.”

In this light, I recall some of the best wisdom my earthly father ever shared with me, which is to think for myself and not just go along with the crowd. I’ve known for a long time that I had to make decisions as to whether I would compromise truth and follow the crowd of destruction or believe God’s truth and receive the crown of life. We can all choose righteousness as we come to know and trust God’s character, Word and guiding Presence.

His nature of truth offers us a powerful force of purity, certainty and righteous direction toward living out His eternal reality. It’s His authenticity that He shares with us, as He reveals Himself and His mysteries to us and deals faithfully with us in covenant relationship (Co 3:4). Who wouldn’t want to know God like this, especially since His truth leads to freedom, while lies lead to a less-than-abundant life?

God alone brings His best. He alone empowers the miracles we need. His is the only way that works. He will meet us in the midst of our challenges with His grace-power, and bless our obedience, to propel us beyond where we can go in our own efforts. So, as we honor Him and His ways, we will come to know Him as The One who is most for us. We will experience Him working out our salvation right before our eyes on earth as our new reality. Oh, what a wonder that He loves us so much.

I invite you to join me next week for part two of Compromised Truth.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.