Bewitched, Hindered, Or Obedient?

 

 

"O Faithful Christian, search the Truth, hear Truth, learn Truth, love Truth, speak the Truth, hold the Truth till death." - John Hus
 

 

John Hus was one of God's renowned reformers and martyrs. Gathering from his quote, we discern that he had a preoccupation with the Truth.  

The Truth of God is so powerful and very instrumental in the believer's walk with God.

 

The Scriptures teach us that it brings about the following results - We are begotten by God - Born Again - (James 1:18)...iniquity is purged(Proverbs 16:6)...we are sanctified - set apart from this world and the works of the flesh(John 17:17)...our acknowledging and adhering to it produces godliness in our lives(Titus 1:1)...and it preserves(Psalm 61:7), leads(Psalm 43:3), and - as a shield and buckler - protects us(Psalm 91:4).

God is referred to in the Scriptures as the - "God of Truth"(Isaiah 65:16) and the "Lord God of Truth"(Psalm 31:5). "All His works are done in Truth"(Psalm 33:4)...His "commandments are Truth"(Psalm 119:151) ...His Truth "endures forever"(Psalm 117:2)...and He "keeps Truth for ever"  (Psalm 146:6).

 

In His Second Coming, He will "judge...the people with His Truth"(Psalm 96:13). Consequently, He desires it to be in our "inward parts" - leading and directing us(Psalm 51:6). He is especially near to all who call upon Him in it(Psalm 145:18).

 

Indeed, He is the "God of Truth" Who emphasizes and recognizes it in His people. We - as believers - are directed in the Scriptures to serve Him in sincerity and walk before Him in it. We are required to do what is right and to speak it on every occasion. In fact, those who do so are the ones who are truly righteous.

As we can see, the Truth is extremely important to God and, resultantly, should be to us.

 

The Scriptures tell us to "buy the Truth, and sell it not..."(Proverbs 23:23). In other words, get, acquire, and obtain it at whatever cost. Never sell it for a piece of Satan's merchandise. Never surrender it for one of His cheap lies.

Depending on what we do with the Holy Scriptures causes us to fall into one of two categories - those who "do the Truth" and those who "do not"(1 John 1:6).

Those who "do the Truth" are distinguished from others by certain characteristics as outlined in the Scriptures. They - 

a)are of God
b)hear His Word and understand it
c)hear His voice
d)receive whoever He sends 

e)do His will
f)know Him that is true

g)are true witnesses

h)do good

i)obey the Truth through the Spirit
j)have chosen its way
k)speak it in love
l)and rejoice in it

On the other hand, those who "do not the truth" are identified in the following manner. They -

a)are not of God
b)do not and cannot hear His Word because it has no place in them
c)do not hear His voice because they are not His sheep
d)turn away their ears from, err from, resist, and don't believe the Truth
e)have not seen God
f)speak not according to the Word 
g)have no light in them
h)do not righteousness but evil
i)do not obey the Truth
j)change it into a lie
k)are destitute of it
l)rejoice in iniquity
                                                                                                                   

Sad to say, many today once walked in Truth but now are no longer with Jesus.

The reason being is that they simply stopped obeying Him.

 

Read the two questions the Apostle Paul asked the believers in the book of Galatians -

Galatians 3:1 - "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the Truth...?"
Galatians 5:7 - "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the Truth?"

The word "bewitched"  in Galatians 3:1 means to tempt, entice, allure, enchant, charm, or fascinate by false representations.

 

Some questions to ask ourselves are -

Who has come into our lives to draw us away from obedience to God's Truth?

What false representations or deceits of the enemy are we being charmed or fascinated by?

What lure is the devil using to bait us to disobey the Word?

In the second Scripture listed above - Galatians 5:7 - the word "hinder" means to interfere with and impede one's course by cutting off his way; to detain, retard, delay, hold up; to be tedious and exhausting unto.

 

Who in our lives is interfering with our progress in God?

Who is detaining or holding us up in that progress?

Who is totally zapping us of all our strength - to the point where we then fail to obey the Lord because of frustration and discouragement?

As John Hus pointed out, the Truth of God is very important to the Christian. At least it should be.

 

What do we do with the Truth?

Are we buying it today or selling it?

How far will we go to obtain it?

How precious is it in our estimation?

Are we willing to compromise it in order to bargain with the devil for a few of his wares?

Have we convinced ourselves that the exchange of one little "white lie" is really no big deal?
Into which category do we fall as Christians - Are we "doers of the Truth" or do we resist it and do our own thing?

Hosea 4:1 tells us that the Lord had a "controversy" with the inhabitants of Israel because, for one reason, there was "no Truth" in the land. Consequently, there was swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery, etc.

 

Matthew Henry, the Bible commentator, said - "Without Truth there is no goodness."

 

This argument can be narrowed down to the individual level. I wonder how many Christians the Lord is having a controversy with because there is no Truth in their lives. Resultantly, there is no goodness or godliness either.

Bewitched, hindered or obedient?

 Where are we today?

 

May God, the Holy Spirit, search our hearts and evaluate our true status.

What we do with the Truth will determine our entire future.

Let us take heed and repent - wherever necessary - and begin to embrace it like never before.