WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
NOVEMBER 24, 2024
TOPIC: LOVE THE TRUTH
BY T. O. BANSO
“He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them” (2 Thessalonians 2:10 New Living Translation).
In Ezekiel 13:19, the LORD talks about false female prophets lying to Israelites. He says, “You bring shame on me among my people for a few handfuls of barley or a piece of bread. By lying to my people who love to listen to lies, you kill those who should not die, and you promise life to those who should not live” (New Living Translation). Can you imagine that these people love to listen to lies? When someone loves to listen to lies, the person has been seduced to hate the truth.
There are such false prophets today, male and female, just as there are those who, curiously enough, love to listen to lies. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:9, the Man of Evil, the Antichrist, will come by the power of Satan; he will have great power and do many different false miracles, signs, and wonders. Verse 10, in the New Living Translation, says, “He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them” (New Living Translation). Because of this, God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all the lies so that they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth (verses 11-12).
In other words, those who receive the love of the truth and are saved will not be victims of the deception spoken about. Those who hate the truth of the gospel will end in hellfire while those who love the truth, receive and believe it will be saved. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 New King James Version). Nobody will be saved who does not love the truth.
Do you love and accept the truth? Or do you love to listen to lies? Eve listened to the serpent’s lie in the Garden of Eden, believed the serpent, and disobeyed God’s command not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man fell because of this (Genesis 3). John 8:32 says “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (New King James Version). The truth will set you free, but you may not like it first because the truth could be bitter.
Some claim to be born again but they don’t like to hear the truth of the Word of God because it makes them uncomfortable. Yes, the truth of the Word of God does that many times. But some don’t like it. They want preachers who will massage their egos and encourage them to continue in their sins. Such people could move from one church to another, looking for preachers who preach what they like or endorse their sinful lifestyles.
Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 New King James Version). But some preachers, by their messages, try to make the gate wide! Those who don’t like the truth follow the messages of such preachers and celebrate them. Unfortunately, these preachers don’t have a separate heaven to take their listeners and fans to!
Paul, writing to Timothy, says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:3-5 New King James Version). This is a sign of the end time.
As a Christian, don’t hate the truth. As a preacher don’t preach lies to people. Don’t preach messages that will take people to hell. Don’t adulterate the Word of God; don’t dilute it. Paul says, “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17 New King James Version). If you’re preaching the truth, hold on to it. Preach the truth with the love of Christ but make sure you preach it.
In this end-time, people who love the truth and accept it won’t be deceived. Those who reject the truth will become victims of lies. King Ahab hated the truth and surrounded himself with lying prophets (2 Chronicles 18:9-33). He said in verse 7, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla” (New King James Version). He died in a battle he should have avoided if he had listened to the words of a true prophet, Micaiah, and not the assuring words of his four hundred lying prophets.
In Acts 13:44-47, Paul and Barnabas preached the truth but in verses 48-50 we see two different reactions – the reaction of Gentiles and the reaction of the Jews. “ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region” (Acts 13:48-50 New King James Version).
The love of the truth will help you to detect lies and not fall for them. In John 18:37, Jesus told Pontius Pilate the governor of Judea about loving the truth. “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true” (New Living Translation). Do you love the truth? If you love the truth of the Word of God, you will be able to relate to people truthfully and you won’t hate people also telling you the truth. “Speak each man the truth to his neighbor” (Zechariah 8:16b New King James Version).
Pronouncing God’s judgment on Israel, the Prophet Amos said in Amos 2:12, “But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’” (New King James Version). They did not hate prophecy, but the truth. They would have been comfortable if they were prophesying what they liked to hear – lies. Therefore, they corrupted the Nazirites. They made them violate the vow of their consecration by giving them wine to drink. The law of the Nazirites forbade them from drinking wine (Numbers 6:1-3). They didn’t want to hear the voice of God through His prophets. Do you hate the truth, but love lies?
The last portion of Zechariah 8:19 says to love truth and peace. Also, Proverbs 23:23 says to buy the truth, and not sell it. It also says to get wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Love the truth. Whoever hates the truth is a child of the devil, for the Bible says, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (New Living Translation). Note the phrase “Always hated the truth.” Don’t hate the truth.
Paul says, “For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8 New Living Translation). Love the truth. Don’t hate it. Don’t oppose it. Don’t deny it. Don’t deride it. Believe it and act upon it and it shall make you free.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I receive the love of the truth in my heart. I shall love the truth, believe it, and act upon it. Holy Spirit, help me to preach the truth of the Word of God so that many may be saved. Father, silence those who oppose the truth of Your Word.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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