Nothing but the truth

Today's Daily Bread

Nothing but the truth
 

Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen.     — John 3:11 

When a witness takes the stand, he is asked, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and noting but the truth?” At one time, the words “so help me God” were part of that oath, as an appeal to the highest authority. Telling the truth to a court of law is absolutely essential because it can determine a verdict of life or death.

When Jesus talked to Nicodemus about the new birth and eternal life, He spoke “under oath.” Note how He prefaced His words in John 3:11. “Most assuredly, I say to you.” He used the Greek phrase “amen, amen,” which can also be translated “verily, verily,” “truly, truly” or “I tell you the truth.” In the gospel of John, Jesus used the phrase 25 times.

In his book The Unity Of The Bible, Daniel Fuller writes, “Jesus . . . did not speak for God but as being God Himself. Of all the biblical spokesperson, only Jesus attached amen to His own statements, thereby declaring that He Himself as God had the authority to affirm His teaching as reliable and true.”

The words of our Lord are the truth, and nothing but the truth. So believe them and obey them. Knowing the truth is a matter of life or death!   — Dennis De Haan

Lord, grant to me a holy zeal

That burns within my heart,

A zeal like Yours for truth and right

From which I’ll not depart.   — D. De Haan

READ: John 3:1-15

Christ Himself is the truth — we need nothing more.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Samuel 21-24

The thrill of discovery

Today's Daily Bread

The thrill of discovery
 

(philstar.com) Updated March 21, 2012 

How sweet are Your words to my taste!— Psalm 119:103

When I was a small boy, I simply wasn’t interested in major league baseball. Then one day I went to the ballpark and saw a game for myself. That changed everything! I began reading about the various clubs and invested a boy’s fortune on books and magazines about the players and the game. I kept a file on each team’s roster and started a scrapbook on the New York Giants. I knew the lineup of every baseball team in the National League, and every week I could quote the batting average of each player. I had been captured by the thrill of great discovery.

A similar thing happens when we commit ourselves to God and hear Him speak to us through the Bible. His voice is so compelling that we want to hear it more than any other voice that speaks to our soul. As we start to discover the treasures of the Bible, we want to find out all we can about the blessings God has given us in His Son Jesus Christ. Even though some passages remains difficult to understand, because of our new motivation they become delightful challenges instead of obstacles.

There’s nothing like opening your heart to Jesus, the living Word, to make the Bible, the written Word, come alive. It will change your life. — Haddon Robinron

How rich the truths within

     God’s Word —

What gems beyond compare!

By faith we can discover them

When study joins with prayer.  — D. De Haan

READ: Psalm 119:97-104

When you open your heart to the

Savior, He opens your mind to the Word.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Samuel 25-28

Are you ready?

Today's Daily Bread

Are you ready?
 

(philstar.com) Updated March 19, 2012 

Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. — 2 Peter 3:14

Two unusual things happened as I was sitting in a restaurant havingmy usual breakfast of a bagel and coffee. First I read an article onthe front page of the newspaper. It quoted a certain Christian authorwho theorized that Christ would call millions of Christians to heavenbefore sundown that particular day.

The rescuers

Today's Daily Bread

The rescuers

(philstar.com) Updated March 18, 2012 

These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation. — Acts 16:17 

You’ve taken up spelunking, and you’re busily exploring aninteresting cave. You check out the tunnels and pathways for hours,wandering deeper and deeper into the unfamiliar darkness. Othersoutside, realizing you must be lost, send someone to rescue you.Suddenly you hear a voice calling your name.

The rescuer greets you, saying, “Follow me, I know the only wayout.” You protest, “How can you say there’s just one way? There must beothers.” The rescuer replies, “I’ve explored this cave, and you must gomy way or you’ll never get out.” “You’re too narrow,” you reply. “I’llfigure it out myself.”

It sounds foolish, but that’s the way some people respond when youmention that the only way to get to heaven is through faith in Christ.You would expect them to say, “Wow! Thanks for the good news!” Instead,you might get a reaction similar to that of the cave explorer: “Leaveme alone. I don’t believe that one-way business.”

A rescuer loves, cares, and risks his well-being for others. The apostle Paulwas a rescuer who was thrown in jail for trying to spread the good news(Acts 16:23). People won’t always receive our rescue attempts with openarms, but that must not stop us from showing the way. Be a rescuer!                    — Dave Branon

Some people do not like to hear

That Jesus is the only way,

But we must still proclaim that truth

So they will follow and obey. — Sper

READ: Acts 16:16-24

Those who are lost need someone to show them the way.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Samuel 14-16