How important is truth? We might as well ask how important is God? Truth is of the greatest importance. Truth comes to us by the revealed Word of God. Truth, also comes to us through Jesus Christ. Pilate asked Jesus: "What is truth?"--John 18:8.

The question of truth in trials of accused persons is of great concern in determining the outcome of guilt or innocence. The question of who Jesus was and what He had done which would be in violation of Roman law was important for a just trial before Pilate. Jesus had confessed the truth that He was the Christ of God, the Son of God, the King of the Jews, Luke 22:67f, John 10:36f, 18:33f. Jesus' accusers rejected the truth of/about Christ Jesus and asked for His death on the cross, Luke 22:67f.

The truth is not what people may want to hear. A guilty person most likely would rather not hear the truth or confess the truth of guilt. The truth can condemn or the truth can liberate, John 8:32--"And ye shall know the truth (aletheian from alethes - sterling, real, certain, sincerely) and the truth shall make you free."KJV. It will condemn our sins; it can liberate us from our sins into the peace of/with God through our Savior Jesus Christ.

God's law demonstrates the line of righteousness according to God's true nature/attributes. When we violate His sacred law we become guilty of going against the TRUTH OF GOD. So, when we accept the truth of God in Christ, who is the WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, John 14:6, we arrive at the crossroads of faith. We must face/realize the sinfulness of mankind in rejecting Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Yes, also we must recognize our own sinfulness and uncleanness as partners with the world of darkness and sin. We should/must admit/confess the truth of our sinfulness and the merciful truth of God's salvation from sin through Christ; and our liberation into abundant new life in Christ. Jesus said: "And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day," John:6:40. KJV.

DEVOTION SEVEN "LOVE" The word love may be the most often used word of emotion in our language. We speak of love, while using the same word, as love of self, God, spouse, friend, family and neighbor or even an enemy. In the Bible the word for love, as a natural free outflowing of warmth and the reaching to another for help, solace and the peaceful blessing of sharing/giving even to the unlovely, is the Greek word "agape."

John 3:16 tells of God's love "agape" for the world (created mankind) in sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, through the death of the cross to bring salvation from sin's eternal death and loss of fellowship into the glorious presence of God's kingdom of glory as joint-heirs through Christ Jesus, the Lord of life and conqueror of death, hell and the grave.

John 3:16 "For God so loved "agapesen" the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."KJV.

When God loves the world He loves each one of us so much that Christ died once for all time, for all mankind, so that all who will trust/believe upon Christ thereby will not suffer for their sins, unbelief, and rebellion in hell without hope for eternity; but on the other hand, enjoy eternal abundant life in fellowship with the family of God through Christ Jesus.

DEVOTION 12 "Hunger"

Hunger is common to all of us. But some experience keener hunger than others. Prisoners of war often experience great hunger for lack of food from the hands of their capturers. We hear of children experiencing malnutrition and hunger. Yet, here in the U. S. of A. most of us have very little real hunger, but rather we eat beyond our hunger. We need to watch and not overeat, while being careful what we eat. The Lord is watching and knows what we need, both for physical and spiritual food.

Jesus spoke of hungering for physical food on occasion. Once he was hungry and sought figs from a leaf-filled fig tree: Mark 11:12,13. Even though it was not the season for ripe figs, He spoke: "Let no one eat fruit from you anymore forever." (NKJV) This served, for the disciples, as a lesson of His expectations from the things of His creation. We also know that Jesus was always fully (no hunger) in holy fellowship with God the Father, and never lacked the oneness of that unity until the cross, when he cried: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Mark 15:34.

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."(NKJV) Jesus described Himself as the bread of life which satisfies man's hunger for salvation and righteousness (John 6). A great band/host of witnesses testify to the complete satisfaction of their hunger for fellowship with God the Father. Jesus satisfies every need of those who in faith look to Him. Only Jesus can satisfy our every hunger.

DEVOTIONAL 17 "Maximum Power"

What's the heaviest thing you've ever lifted? It may be twice your weight. Most of us do well at our best to lift our weight 20 times, say 20 chin ups. Then we've got to rest. Whatever our limits are there is always something heavier which we can't lift. This brings me to the truth of Christ which says we can lift beyond our own strength/power. In fact our very weaknesses can find complete strength in Christ (Phil. 4:l3).

In everyday life Christ wants us to find completeness and power in Him. We need power to overcome our faults/sins; our sicknesses/frailties; our biases and littleness; our false pride; our resistance to God's will for our lives.

First, we must acknowledge these sins to God and our Christian supporters. Second, we must give ourselves to repentance for change of direction by saying "no" to these habits of life and attitude; and by saying: "yes, Lord, you can change me and will change me by your power."

In doing this we can expect God's miraculous power to bring the change needed for Christian growth in our life. Jesus taught us to be servants but yet masters of faith works to glorify Him and His power in us. The world will take notice of Him and not our physical greatness. Our Lord will maximize our strength and minimize our weaknesses.

Some scriptures to read are: Acts 6:8; Eph.l:l9; I Cor. l:24-28; I Cor. 4:l9-20; II Cor. l2:9; II Tim. l:7; Heb. 6:5.