01-19-24-ENG.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

John 8:31–32

Truth can be defined as an absolute standard by which reality is measured. Jesus tells us that truth not only exists, but it is also a powerful force when He states in John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Truth is not a made-up concept. Truth exists. Jesus testifies to its existence and says that you and I can come to know truth for ourselves. This absolute standard by which reality is measured sits outside of you and me as an objective standard. As we are looking at this week in our devotions, truth is not based on emotion.

I want to revisit this reality because it affects us all more than we realize. Regardless of how you feel about something that is true, you need to keep in mind that your feelings don’t determine the truth. Your feelings could be wrong. Truth does not need your emotions to approve it or validate it. 

One plus one has always equaled two, and it will always equal two. This is because it is a fixed, absolute standard by which reality is to be measured. Without this standard, much of what rests on mathematical formulas and programs would come crashing to a halt. Without this standard, the physics of the universe would collapse, as would the world in which we live. You must decide, as every Christian should, where you stand on this subject of truth. Now, I didn’t say you must decide what is truth. Rather, you must decide where you stand on the subject of truth. You must decide if you are going to fall sway to a culture that allows each person to do what is right in their own eyes, as we see in the book of Judges, or whether you are going to recognize that there is an objective standard by which truth has been established.

Contaminated and sinful flesh cannot be relied upon to establish or maintain truth. Sinfulness distorts the truth. Trust rests in the pure perfection of the Creator Himself. Reaction: Describe a time in your life when you allowed your feelings to dictate what you believed to be true, only to find out after the fact that your feelings were wrong. What is one key principle you learned from that situation?

What is a good way to check your emotions against the standard of truth revealed in God’s Word?

Prayer:
Jesus, motivate my heart to lean on Your truth and to know Your truth as the absolute standard that I base my own decisions on. Reward those times in my life when I do that so I can gain insight into how living a life in alignment with You brings about good in my life. Show me what it means to check my emotions against the truth of Your Word and how I can do that as a regular part of my day. In Your name I pray, amen.