Root of Truth

Root of Truth

John 7: ¹⁴ Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. ¹⁵ And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

¹⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. ¹⁷ If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. ¹⁸ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

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After listening to many stories, I headed towards the door. “Do you know who that was?” someone asked me. “No” I replied. That was the owner and founder of this place. The stories he told now had more meaning as they expressed true experiences.

• I enjoy hearing stories about how someone struggled and then made it.
• I enjoy hearing stories that tell the truth with difficult details.
• I enjoy hearing stories I can use as a roadmap for what I am going through.

JESUS went to the feast anyway, knowing the church leaders were trying to kill HIM. HE taught in riveting detail and they marveled at HIS knowledge. JESUS said some pointed words that said HIS teaching comes from GOD to glorify GOD. Each word JESUS spoke could easily be checked.

• GOD wants me to learn as long as my learning points to HIM.
• GOD wants me to acquire more an more knowledge as long as my knowledge can be used to glorify HIM.
• GOD wants me to check what I say about HIM with the words HE says about HIMSELF.

Self-promotion is something GOD wants humans to avoid. While this practice is highly honored in politics and wealth chasing, GOD sees it as a prideful move away from needing HIM. Each time I speak about GOD, HE wants me to check with HIM first to see if my words will promote HIM alone. I am glad HE revealed the truth through the words of HIS SON.

• Are you seeking to be the center of attention?
• Do you want fame socially, politically or even theologically?
• Will you check your attitude towards GOD by seeking HIS teaching through HIS Word today?

Hidden Messages

Matthew 11: ²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

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“You are so smart” was the compliment I loved to hear. This meant “I” was special. I worked hard to hear those words again and again. Finally, I reached a point where I was with the top people in my class. “Why are you hanging out with ‘those’ people?” they questioned me. “What people?” I replied. “The ones who will not get into college.” Hmm, is this the right crowd for me?

• There were some very smart people I admired.
• There were some very clever people I followed.
• There were some very intellectual people I tried to emulate only to find it was yet another class trying to exclude.

“Those people” meant it was them against “us.” It felt kind of good for a minute; I mean being hated by the troglodytes who slumped through the hallways. Unfortunately for me, GOD was hiding HIS message from me.

• GOD wanted me to see “People” not “Those people.”
• GOD wanted me to know “The smarter I got, the dumber I got spiritually.”
• GOD wanted me to understand that HIS power is infinite, confusing to humans and shown only to those HE chooses.

It took a while for me to stop worshipping the next genius that came along and start focusing on GOD’s power. Instead of trying to emulate them, I was bound to follow the examples of JESUS. The stuff that HE had me doing did not make sense. Soon I had gone to countries around the world, spreading HIS message of salvation.

While this did not make sense to the intellectual community, it made sense to GOD and that is what matters most!

• Are you trying to be noticed by your intellectual prowess?
• Have you lowered GOD into a thing “those” ignorant people worship?
• Can you open your eyes to GOD’s infinite power to create and sustain human life?
• Will you seek the hidden messages from GOD today?