Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. -Romans 12:21

How vital this truth is in the world we are living in. What I love is that, it’s always been true no matter what time in history or cultural challenge it would be read in. The Word of God endures forever, and though it is “old” it is still true, trustworthy, and relevant … it always has been and always will be.

The one way to know truth and discern evil from good is to actually read, study, and know the Word of God and then seek the Holy Spirit, who is alive and working in you, to give you that discernment and truth. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

It has been on my heart so much recently to urge anyone who claims to be a Christian to READ YOUR BIBLE!!! If you don’t know what it says, you don’t know what God says, and you certainly cannot defend it or your faith! You will also easily be led astray by those who try to tell you what it says; Satan knew the Bible too, but he knew it to twist, manipulate, and deceive. Jesus was able to discern that deception because He KNEW the actual Word of God and the out-of-context version Satan was spewing at Him (Matthew 4:1-11).

As believers in Jesus, we MUST indulge in our daily bread by reading the Bible and seeking the voice of God. There’s a lot of noise out there, but He says that my sheep hear my voice (John 10:27-28). Are you listening? It’s the only way to stay the course and be the salt and light He’s called us to be (Matthew 5:13-16) in a time that can feel very dark, evil, and chaotic.

Currently, “Christians,” are allowing culture to tell us what our identity and beliefs are, and because so many have not actually read the Bible, let alone read it daily, they just blindly consent to what is being crammed down their throats. For example, I often hear people screaming at those who adhere to biblical morality, “Judge not lest ye be judged!” But following that Scripture reference is, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:1-11)

Yes, Jesus absolutely met people where they were at, and the Bible is FULL of those glorious, gracious stories, but what many are neglecting to acknowledge, which I suspect is because of the aforementioned lack of reading the Bible, is that people always had to make a vital choice in these stories. They could not encounter Jesus and follow Him without transformation. Come as you are, but you can’t stay where you were found. The truth is that, when you have a genuine encounter with the love and grace of Jesus, you don’t WANT to stay in your sinful ways. You are compelled to constantly live in the freedom of forgiveness rather than a place of complacency, blindness, and bondage. Radical love always leads to radical changes, albeit often not overnight.

Now, I know many will call speaking this truth as legalism and dismiss those declaring the truth of the Gospel claiming they are just like the Pharisees and Sadducees. However, the difference is in the why. We don’t speak, believe, or live out truth to earn our salvation as someone who is self-righteous, but rather, we are doing so in response to the great gift of salvation we’ve already received. Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26), but behind those works is a genuine response to the transformed heart we receive from the indescribable and unimaginable love of Christ. We speak truth because we love Him, and we love others! Our desire is that all will be saved and come to the knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

Following Jesus isn’t always easy, and it’s rarely popular, but it’s oh-so-compelling. The concept of being loved so much and offered a gift so great as undeserved salvation is one that far outreaches my finite mind’s ability to comprehend it. All I can do is seek to grow in my faith and understanding of Jesus – who He was, is, and will always be. I want to be more and more and more like Him through the grace of God, the reading of His Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

These days require a bold and courageous faith, which demands knowing what we believe and why straight from the Word of God. There’s no other source of truth if we want to be counted as true followers of Jesus.

Yes, this will be unpopular, met with hatred, and dismissed, but it doesn’t change our position. It doesn’t change the ultimate and absolute truths of the Bible. So, please, READ YOUR BIBLE, and activate the Holy Spirit in your life! Let’s live genuine, true, fruitful lives that truly reflect and represent Jesus well in a world that desperately needs it.

As a side note, if you need or want a Bible, just email us at info@foundationrestoration.org, and we will get you one.

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