Jeff Adams

I continue to think about the elements of growth: grace, truth and time. Where does one find grace and truth? Let’s just take truth. Where can we get it?

This is the cue for someone to slap the cowhide cover of their wide margin, black KJV and loudly proclaim, “You find truth in the Bible, Brother!”

Yes. Without doubt. Jesus said to his Father that his word is truth (John 17:17). When we think of truth,  we often think of preaching, teaching and Bible study.  The temptation is to think that all our needs will be met if we just read the Bible and listen to preaching and teaching. That’s a great foundation!

However, if we limit ourselves to preaching, teaching and Bible study as our only source of truth, we eventually limit our growth. When we actually open our Bibles and read them instead of just slapping the cover and repeating pious sayings, we discover that truth is to be found in many places and needs to be in many places. Consider the following examples.

• Finding truth in our innermost beings as we open ourselves to the examination of God’s Spirit. Psalm 51:5; 139:23
• Not just learning the Bible, but learning to live its truth, hold to it and integrate it into daily life. John 8:31-32
• Confessing by telling the truth about who we are. James 5:16
• Speaking the truth to others. Ephesians 4:15, 25
• Being a model of the truth for others and learning truth from the example of others. 1Corinthians 4:16; 11:1
• In a fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just reading about Jesus, but getting to know him.  John 1:14, 17; 14:6; Philippians 3:10
• Through what we do in the power of God. John 3:21
• Through the witness of the Spirit. John 15:26; 16:13; Ephesians 5:9; 1John 5:6
• By mutual transparency and accountability. 2Corinthians 4:2

These are some examples of places where we get truth. The authority of the scriptures is foundational to all life. Growth occurs when we not only learn intellectual information about truth in the Bible, but begin to assimilate that truth, integrating it into the reality of daily life.  What are the sources of truth in your life?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 9:40 pm and is filed under Scriptural Application for Everyday Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.