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Today's Bible Passage

JAMES 5:19,20

 

In this scripture, there is established the great differentiating characteristic of Christian truth. It is something from which a person can wander. It is not only intellectual, philosophical, and abstract; it is always moral truth.

 

This comes out very clearly when we go to the New Testament and look at the expressions that are used in connection with truth. Truth is something a person must love (2 Thessalonians 2:10); it is something that a person must obey (Galatians 5:7); it is something that a person must display in life (2 Corinthians 4:2); it is something that must be spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15); it is something that must be manifested in a life of love (1 John 3:19); it is something that liberates (John 8:32), and it is something that is the gift of the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus Christ (John 16:13-14).

 

Clearest of all is the phrase in John 3:21: “He who DOES what is true…”. That is to say, Christian truth is something that must be done. It is not only the object of the search of the mind; it is always moral truth issuing in action. It is not only something to be studied but something to be done; not only something to which a person must submit only his mind but something to which he must submit his whole life.