Truth Produces

“The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous.”
Psalms 19:7-9 CSB

Last week we spent a few minutes remembering where real truth is found. This morning I want us to remember the benefits of living in the truth. The verses that you just read paint a picture of renewal, trust, wisdom, joy, clarity, and reliability; all attributes I want as part of my daily life. What I find most interesting is all of these qualities are available to everyone. The truth of the Word of God is free and open to anyone willing to read and apply it. The promise of God to us is that He will take the truths of His word and plant it deep in our hearts, using it to conform us to his image. WOW. Ultimately the Word of God produces the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) in my life, making me a light of hope and comfort to others. Who couldn’t use a good dose of those qualities each day? Now, the scary fact is this, the opposite is equally as true. When we don’t allow the truth to sink into our lives we become more self-focused and self-indulgent, leaving us unable to be patient, joyful, at peace, full of wisdom, kind, gentle, and helpful to others. Making us soak in our own little world of selfishness, becoming sour, bitter, and jaded.
I am not sure about you, but I know how I want to live my life each day. The wonderful fact is I get to choose.
What will your choice be today?

-Pastor Tim