John 8:45-47 -- But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Today we find Jesus finishing out His speech to the religious leaders about parentage. We already heard Him explain who the devil is and how these leaders were doing his will by lying and even being willing to kill to preserve their comfortable ways.
Jesus sums things up by bringing to their attention they reject Him not because He tells lies, but because He tells them the truth they do not wish to accept.
I can't tell you how many times in the past I struggled with hiding from His truth and His word. I may not have wanted to trap and kill anyone like the Pharisees, but I sure didn't mind deceiving myself into thinking it was all okay. It's easy to run and hide from His truth because the world, the devil, and our own flesh, have very LONG lists of excuses just waiting to go.
For me nothing changed until I chose to be obedient and walk with Him in His word and prayer daily. Being honest here, I didn't do it joyfully in the beginning. I had to drag myself out of bed, make myself pray, then read the Word with Him. However, the more I did it, the more He changed me from the inside without me even realizing it. Now it is a blessing and one of my greatest joys to spend time with Him daily in His word and in prayer. Something when I started, I didn't even realize was possible, but when I chose to show up, He was always right there, and one day the walls just came tumbling down inside.
Christian, Jesus asks a few things in the verse today. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? If you're struggling with walking with Him daily, getting into the Word and praying, pay attention to His questions.
Ask yourself, has Jesus ever sinned or done anything other than love and give up everything for you? Do you believe He speaks the truth, if so, do you follow and do what He commands? One final question that I've asked myself before. If you were standing face to face with Jesus right this second, would a single reason, excuse, or challenge on your list sufficiently explain to Him why you cannot walk with Him and abide in His Words, abide in Him each day?
I know I struggled for years and had an extensive list of reasons why, so this isn't me judging anyone. This is me being real that it's something we as Christians must open our eyes and address in our daily lives. It's not okay for us to willfully ignore our duty in 1 John 2:6 to walk as He walked, or in john 8:31-32 to abide in His Word and know the truth so it may set us free.
That's where the journey went this morning with the Lord. I ask for your prayers as I've not slept much and have been sick all morning.
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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