February 15, 2005

Day 24 - Transformed by Truth

The truth transforms us!

Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 (NIV)

Sanctification requires revelation. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. To become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with his Word. The Bible says, “Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” 2 Timothy 3:17 (Msg)

Jesus called it “abiding.” He said, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.” John 8:31 (NASB, 1978 Edition) In day-to-day living, abiding in God’s Word includes three activities. You must accept its authority. You must assimilate its truth. And you must apply its principles.

A good way to become a “doer of the Word” is to write out an action step as a result of your reading or studying or reflecting on God’s Word. Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do. This action step should be personal (involving you), practical (something you can do), and provable (with a deadline to do it).

What has God already told you to do in his Word that you haven’t started doing yet? As D. L. Moody said, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.”

One More Thought

There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the Scriptures. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If God's word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose rarely seen in these times. {SC 90.1}

Pastor Dan