The Truth Shall Make You Free

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth,” 1 John 3:16-18, KJV.

The word love is a verb, it has action. It is not merely something we say or something we read on a piece of paper, rather something that we do. The Bible states that we are to love in deed and in truth. We ought not to be pretenders when we say “I have the love of Christ in me.” Having the love of Christ is to declare and display His truth and His character.

Love is often misinterpreted. Some view lust as love, but that is not love. 1 Corinthians 13 spells out exactly what love is. It is kind, humble, not easily provoked, and thinks no evil amongst other things. Who is the epitome of love? God is the epitome of love, God is love.

Over the past couple of years, I have aimed to show my love by telling others the truth behind sororities and fraternities. To share how Christians are taking oaths in unity with unbelievers. To actually call another person a brother or sister and the organization is okay with them belonging to any faith other than through Christ is not what God has called us to do. Jesus stated that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father except by Him (John 14:6). He also stated that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments (John 14:15). He commands us to not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

It is not my aim to alienate another brother or sister in Christ or to even turn away a potential Christian by this message. It is my motive, however, to tell the truth. There are moments that present challenges in doing so by backlash and condemnation, but I’m reminded by the Holy Spirit that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. He commands us to love. We are to love one another enough to tell each other the truth.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” John 8:32, KJV.

He Wants It All

“For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place,” 1 Chronicles 16:25-27, KJV.

The song by Forever Jones entitled “He Wants it All” is a shining example of how we are to live for God. It is so simple, yet many make the message of salvation so complicated. Once a person grasps the message of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” it becomes so much easier to give back to the Lord whatever He wants … which basically is all of you, all of me. He wants it all.

Consider what the Lord does for us from day to day. Many of us are blessed with the use of our limbs, our voices, our hearing, and our sight. How are we using those things that the Lord has given us? We can raise our hands up at a ball game, but not in reverence to God? We can speak gossip, but not of the goodness of the Lord? We can look at degrading videos and/or flicks, but not at a documentary, sermon, or message about Jesus Christ? If we put other things before God, where is the priority? If God isn’t first, then you are serving an idol.

Here is a clip of the song “He Wants It All,” please pay close attention to the words.

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen,” 1 John 5:20-21, KJV.

Trust in the Lord

It’s inevitable that man will fail you (whether by accident or on purpose), but through God all things are possible. He is the only constant in life that’s guaranteed to have our best interest at heart.

The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). That’s the enemy’s primary focus. His fate is sealed and he does not care anything about us. In fact, I think he hates us. The slick, smooth tongue he used to convince the heavenly angels he has no problem using on us. Take note of their eternal home (Matthew 25:41).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” 1 Peter 5:8, KJV. Again, the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. This is not limited to the financial areas in our lives; he ultimately wants to steal our faith in God. The enemy may begin with something small (sometimes the things we consider big) to ensnare us; but in reality the small things are money, careers, etc. Now, I am not saying that these things are unimportant, that is not my stance at all, what I am saying is that they are small compared to the big picture: Faith and trust in the Almighty God. The devil has a way of using those things we care about to manipulate us into turning against God. Some have even committed suicide over a job, a living situation, and even another person.

Meditate on what Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it,” Matthew 10:34-39, KJV. If the enemy can get you to turn against God— he’s got you. Keep your faith! Fight the good fight of faith until the end, no matter what (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7).

Also, remember that this can be a test that turns into a testimony; if you have destruction or separation that falls upon the family, remember that you always have Jesus, you always have God. He will never leave us nor forsake us. “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God,’” Psalm 31:14, NKJV. Remember; trust in the Lord, not your circumstance.

Not the Norm

If the world hates you, know that it hated Jesus first...

John 15:16-27 (Amplified Bible)

16You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.

17This is what I command you: that you love one another.

18If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.

19If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.

20Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.

21But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me.

22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23Whoever hates Me also hates My Father.

24If I had not done (accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin. But [the fact is] now they have both seen [these works] and have hated both Me and My Father.

25But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause.(A)

26But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.

27But you also will testify and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

As Christians, true Christians, we must know that we are not the norm. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.," 1 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV.