John 18:33-38
Pilate than went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priest who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” Pilate asked.
We are inundated with questions on every conceivable subject, and with each question there are just as many answers. This leads to confusion, and with a great deal of frustration we ask, what is truth?
Do you remember what it was like as a child attending church every Sunday morning? My favorite hymn was “The Lord is on Our Side.” At the time the words to that song were just words. But today they fall upon my ears with new meaning and truth. After struggling for many years and encountering a host of belief setbacks, at times I have struggled to be consistent in my Christian witness. Have you ever had someone ask you where your Christianity is today, after you made some unkind, critical remark? Or have you ever been conversing with a good friend who reduced Jesus to an insignificant person? That is the perfect time to tell them that Jesus is more than a teacher - he wants to be their Savior. You could encourage them to make him a part of their life. Instead you keep silent, because you don't want to offend your friend plus it is here, that the world says, that Christianity needs to be changed. Reduce Christ to a great martyr and prophet, and the world will admire him; such a change for me is not an option.
That is inconsistency. I have come to the stark realization that the world is tough but simple and that life can sometimes be difficult to swallow, But I welcome the soothing words of that song from my past to help strengthen my beliefs for today and to become a person of action.
Our spiritual/religious beliefs are very important. What we believe controls our lives and provides correction to our lives. What we believe as children is important as well. Some truths (beliefs) never change. Gospel truth never changes. Biblical truth never changes. And these truths make a big difference in the way we live. Recently, I shared the following beliefs with a friend,” I believe that the Bible is still God's Word. It is God-inspired, God-breathed, and God-given. We need to read it, refer to it often, and rejoice in it. As we listen to it, lean on it, learn from it, and allow it to lift us up as we love our neighbors! God works through his Word the Bible, and the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion to empower us as new creations that no longer strive against Him, but are restored to fellowship with him, through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
Jesus says, “Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.” Our culture's response to this statement seems to be to take the parts of Jesus' teachings that people will accept and leave the rest for the theologians to write books and argue about. “Who listens to them anyway?”
The question the Christian must answer is this: How will we be seen in today's culture if we seriously follow the truths Jesus teaches us?
The Lord's love is old, but strong and powerful and ever new. The Lord's commission still stands. And the Lord's return is still promised; old truths, old songs, with refreshing gospel truths that are powerful and eternal. We to me are a Community of all Believers as long as the focus is Christ centered. Remember what Jesus said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Jesus neither taught, nor gave the impression, that the Church is going to be a cozy group, where each can believe what they want to believe, and they are not challenged because unity is all important. This to me is our witness, and it must be consistent. Tell it, sing it and model it whenever you have an opportunity at work or at worship, with Christians or with unbelievers, in all kinds of circumstances and conditions in your life.
The world needs to hear your consistent Christian witness. Where God's word speaks, the Christian is challenged to speak. As we speak, the Holy Spirit works. Love the Church. Christ does. With all of its imperfections, it is still the Body of Christ.
God Bless You and This Ministry!
Pilate than went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priest who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” Pilate asked.
We are inundated with questions on every conceivable subject, and with each question there are just as many answers. This leads to confusion, and with a great deal of frustration we ask, what is truth?
Do you remember what it was like as a child attending church every Sunday morning? My favorite hymn was “The Lord is on Our Side.” At the time the words to that song were just words. But today they fall upon my ears with new meaning and truth. After struggling for many years and encountering a host of belief setbacks, at times I have struggled to be consistent in my Christian witness. Have you ever had someone ask you where your Christianity is today, after you made some unkind, critical remark? Or have you ever been conversing with a good friend who reduced Jesus to an insignificant person? That is the perfect time to tell them that Jesus is more than a teacher - he wants to be their Savior. You could encourage them to make him a part of their life. Instead you keep silent, because you don't want to offend your friend plus it is here, that the world says, that Christianity needs to be changed. Reduce Christ to a great martyr and prophet, and the world will admire him; such a change for me is not an option.
That is inconsistency. I have come to the stark realization that the world is tough but simple and that life can sometimes be difficult to swallow, But I welcome the soothing words of that song from my past to help strengthen my beliefs for today and to become a person of action.
Our spiritual/religious beliefs are very important. What we believe controls our lives and provides correction to our lives. What we believe as children is important as well. Some truths (beliefs) never change. Gospel truth never changes. Biblical truth never changes. And these truths make a big difference in the way we live. Recently, I shared the following beliefs with a friend,” I believe that the Bible is still God's Word. It is God-inspired, God-breathed, and God-given. We need to read it, refer to it often, and rejoice in it. As we listen to it, lean on it, learn from it, and allow it to lift us up as we love our neighbors! God works through his Word the Bible, and the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion to empower us as new creations that no longer strive against Him, but are restored to fellowship with him, through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
Jesus says, “Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.” Our culture's response to this statement seems to be to take the parts of Jesus' teachings that people will accept and leave the rest for the theologians to write books and argue about. “Who listens to them anyway?”
The question the Christian must answer is this: How will we be seen in today's culture if we seriously follow the truths Jesus teaches us?
The Lord's love is old, but strong and powerful and ever new. The Lord's commission still stands. And the Lord's return is still promised; old truths, old songs, with refreshing gospel truths that are powerful and eternal. We to me are a Community of all Believers as long as the focus is Christ centered. Remember what Jesus said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Jesus neither taught, nor gave the impression, that the Church is going to be a cozy group, where each can believe what they want to believe, and they are not challenged because unity is all important. This to me is our witness, and it must be consistent. Tell it, sing it and model it whenever you have an opportunity at work or at worship, with Christians or with unbelievers, in all kinds of circumstances and conditions in your life.
The world needs to hear your consistent Christian witness. Where God's word speaks, the Christian is challenged to speak. As we speak, the Holy Spirit works. Love the Church. Christ does. With all of its imperfections, it is still the Body of Christ.
God Bless You and This Ministry!
