What is Truth?

(From the Esther’s Petition archives.)

Disciple – that’s who an often misquoted, quoted out of context and misused scripture verse really applies to. Jesus said (John 8:31-32) “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

You won’t know the truth if you aren’t his disciples. You won’t learn it, acquire it, or discover it, except by holding to his teaching. Only when you are his disciple, holding to his teaching, will you know the truth. Only when you are his disciple will you know the truth and that truth will then set (make in the KJV) you free.

Hmmm. Disciple, what is that, exactly? To me it’s one who follows/obeys the leading, instruction, example, principles, teaching of his master. Holding to it. Clasping, owning, adhering, sticking to it.

Truth? There’s a word with weighty, explosive, controversial definitions sometimes. What is truth? People ask. Pilate asked (John 18:38). Don’t we all want to know? Jesus said there was a way to know the truth, just hold to his teachings and thus be his disciple. We’ll know it, recognize it, experience it, be able to define it and enjoy it, once we’ve gotten to that point.

And then the truth we know at that point will make us free. No other way will we know the – not a, not some, not a kind of, but the – truth. No other way will we be made free.

Free, now there’s another interesting word…

So, how do we take advantage? (of the nature of seeds…)

Prepare the field. Remove the stones, the briars and weeds, plow up the soil and fertilize. Then sow the seeds. Follow-up with proper cultivation. Okay, that’s how a farmer does it. But how does the word-sower do it? Let’s look at how Jesus did it.

Pray first, find out where Father wants you to go and what he wants you to do.

Love people and help them. Turn water into wine. Feed hungry people. Heal sick people. Return a dead son to his mother. Return a healed sick boy to his father. Drive demons out when necessary. Whatever shows the Father’s mercy, compassion and practical help, do that. Then, when you speak they will listen.

Teach in easy to understand ways. Use understandable examples. Use the weather. Carpentry. Farming. Housework. Business. Warfare. Scripture, where the people are familiar with scripture. Be practical, useful, helpful. Build up, not tear down. Encourage, not discourage. Be merciful, not judgmental. But be truthful.

I have a problem with folks who quote one particular verse out of context – you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free. Not so! The truth that sin will kill you doesn’t make anyone free. Jesus said, if you continue in my word, then you’ll be my disciples – and THEN you’ll know the truth, and THEN the truth will make you free. (Read John 8:31ff)

While we go about preparing the field, sowing the seed and cultivating afterward, let’s don’t forget that the seed we’re handling is God’s word. Let’s handle it with care and integrity, and be smart. Do it Jesus’ way.