Full Acceptance

“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”(John 8:34-36)

There are times and situations were we see truth and it’s appeal. Truth is powerful, setting us free from fear, error, misconceptions, lies, sin and more. As a gardener I’m occasionally uncertain when my plants are not thriving; I consider whether I need to change the soil Ph or add fertilize, but it’s difficult to know the actual problem. There is a phone app advertising simple effective solutions to various house plant ailments and it is very appealing. This is an illustration of truth’s value, not only can bad situations be avoided or resolved, but good circumstances result when we know the truth.

Paul and Barnabas preached the good news of Yeshua Messiah in Lystra and Derbe. A man lame from birth was there. “He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.” (Acts 14:9-10)

The crowd saw this and began proclaiming the God’s, Zeus and Hermes, have come down in human form. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and ran into the crown crying, “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.”

Then enemies from other towns came and persuaded the people, so they stoned Paul leaving him for dead. (Acts 14:15,19)

How can people go from praise to hate in an instant? We cannot hold on to a lie and continue in the truth. The idol worshippers in Lystra and Derbe may have been offended at the truth of Creator God and His power to miraculously heal. They could not fully accept the truth of fact, but held on to their lie of idolatry. It can be the same with us when God confronts us. Will we turn away from our comfortable distractions and fully accept His truth? “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Yeshua came to set us free by the truth. (Luke 4:18)