Today I'd like to change it up a bit. Instead of posting a devotion from My Utmost for His Highest, I'm going to share a devotion from Pure, by Rebecca St. James.
Searching for Truth
This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: "Call to Me and I will answer. I'll tell you marvelous and wonderful things that you could never figure out on your own." -Jeremiah 33:2-3, The Message
Reflection
I'm not unlike many people who have grown up in the church. There's a lot about Christianity that we just accept from our parents. Too often it takes a dramatic moment of awakening for you to say, "I need to discover this for myself." A few years ago, I came to a place in my life where I wanted to study more apologetics (the defense of the authenticity of God's truths and and the claims of Christ). I wanted to be able to defend my faith in a greater way- not just for those who might not know Jesus, and could challenge me, but also for myself. I really wanted to understand certain aspects of my faith that I hadn't looked at in depth before. I had unanswered questions about life, love, and what it means to trust God with all my heart.
I immersed myself in study, reading, and discussing my questions with a mentor and with an international community of others also on a search for truth. I processed what I learned, spent time in prayer, soul-searching, and serious in-depth Bible study, and listened for the still, small voice of God to speak. I was a sponge just taking it all in. It was a powerful season in my spiritual growth when faith and real life intersected.
I love the example of the Bereans in the New Testament. After hearing the apostle Paul speak, "they recieved the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11). As a result, many of them accepted the claims of Jesus Christ and put their faith in Him. God doesn't want us to blindly accept whatever others say- whether parents, preachers, Bible teachers, or friends. He wants us to check out the validity of their words for ourselves. God is big enough to handle all of our questions, and if we will come to Him sincerely seeking His truth, He will answer.
Looking Further
Jesus' twelve apostles spent three years walking with Him and asking Him questions in an attempt to clarify in their own minds the meaning behind the words He spoke. Jesus said so many mind-boggling things that were diametrically opposed to much of what the disciples had been taught according to the law. Sometimes Jesus spoke with figures of speech that they did not understand. Toward the end of His earthly ministry, they said, "Now we know that you know everything- it all comes together in You. You won't have to put up with our questions anymore. We're convinced you came from God." (John 16:30, The Message).
After Jesus' resurrection, when He first appeared to His disciples, Thomas was not present (John 20:19-24). When the others told Thomas they had seen the Lord, he responded, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it" (v. 25). He wanted physical proof of Christ's resurrection. A week later Jesus again appeared to them, and this time Thomas was in the room. After Jesus invited Thomas to touch Him, Thomas boldly exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (v. 28). When we come to God with our questions and He proves Himself to us in myriad ways, this is the most appropriate response- to follow His leading and lordship in our lives.
Living It Out
In your search for truth, are there certain things you believe about Christ that you have blindly accepted? Have you dug into God's word to find answers for yourself? If not, now is a good time to start. Are there others in your life who are seeking truth, but don't know that they are really searching for a vibrant relationship with Jesus? What can you do to answer their questions in an honest way, and direct them to the ultimate Source of truth?
