Truth

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” (The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans 12:3, NLT)

Paul was well educated and a leader.  He traveled throughout the Roman Empire teaching.  He was chosen by God to lead the start of the Church among the nations.  From such a position he thought it was important to “give each of you this warning.”  We do tend to think we are better than we actually are.  It is easy to look at others and think our way is better.  The divisions in our world run deep.  There are divisions between liberals and conservatives, gays and straight, pro-choice and pro-life and the list is endless.  Each side knows that their side is right, and because of that conviction it seems that we start thinking we are better.  Just as a thought, perhaps what Paul says immediately before what is quoted above is an answer. 

“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NLT)

Why let everyone else tell you how you should think?  If God is Creator, is it possible He can show us truth, real truth?

God's Children

To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1:12-13, NLT)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. (Romans 8:14-17, NLT)

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. (Galatians 3:26-27, NLT)

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! (1 John 3:1, NLT)

We are children of God through faith.  This is accomplished through Jesus Christ and is a result of God’s great love.  We have received the Spirit of “sonship”, who brought about our adoption.  We are legally, practically and wholly God’s children.  This is by His will not our own.

Confused and Helpless

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  Matthew 9:36, NLT

Jesus was traveling through towns and villages teaching and healing.  Crowds gathered wherever He went.  Here we have a report of what Jesus thought when He saw the crowds.  Matthew wrote in Greek.  The Greek words behind our translation of “he had compassion” imply that this was a gut wrenching experience for Jesus.  Also, the words behind “confused and helpless” are emphatic.  “Confused” is an interpretation of a word that originally meant “to flay” and could accurately be translated “painfully annoyed”.  The word behind “helpless” has a root meaning “to throw”, and thus carries the idea of scattering or dispersing.

This is the way we are without Christ.  Where do you go for truth?  How do you measure truth?