This is a time in history when it can be tough to know ‘truth.’ Our faces are edited and airbrushed in photos; we publish false information and opinion as fact on media platforms and the world-wide web; and scammers rob the unsuspecting of their identities and hard-earned savings. It is a time when a little skepticism is not a bad thing.
Truth-Telling
The Bible calls us to be truth-tellers. It seems that deception is not only a problem today but was equally a problem in the days of early Christians. The Apostle Paul called the Ephesian believers to truth-telling multiple times in his letter to the fledgling church. He made it clear that Christians don’t lie to one another, as he talked about believers learning to live out their new nature. He was dealing with the “I” of the SPIRE, reminding us that the Holy Spirit dwelling within us will renew our minds, thoughts, and attitudes – to the degree we will allow it.
Truth in Love
Significantly, Paul wrote that we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15 NLT). Here, he seemed to be going beyond morality and calling believers back to the specific truth he wrote about in 1:13, the truth that God saves us through belief in the real, historical, and eternal, Christ. He linked our sharing this truth with our spiritual growth. He also, notably, linked truth-telling with love.
Truth-Tellers
When I think of people who share the truth in love, friends like author and speaker Adena Paget leap to mind. Adena not only helped our ministry train countless volunteer speakers to share hope and faith in Jesus, but she also lived to share her own story, telling the difference that knowing Christ made in her life. When we met for coffee in a rustic Cochrane coffee house recently, I was again inspired by her beautiful spirit, her contagious joy, and her depth of faith, despite entering a new and challenging chapter of life.
Verena is another sweet friend who comes to mind when I think of sharing truth. Verena Diefenbacher continues to share the Good News message, woven through personal tales of coming to Canada from Switzerland, and illustrations from her vast hands-on knowledge of gardening. Verena has guided volunteers in our ministry to craft their own stories of faith and lead others to Jesus, influencing hundreds or maybe thousands towards the truth.
Truth Through Your Story
The world needs to know the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). As a believer, let me encourage you to consider your own story and the difference that Christ has made in it. Where would you be right now without God? Is there someone you can talk to about the wonders of your life in Christ?
Let’s pray for opportunities to share the truth, the Good News, that we know from experience and Scripture. As we pray for this, we may also want to ask God to increase our love for those who are lost and floundering without faith.
Truth Leads To Wholeness
Wholeness comes first through the Good News that someone brings to us, then multiplies and increases as we share it with others. Like SPIREs, we can point the way to faith, with our true stories of transformation.
To find encouragement in sharing your faith, tune in to our inSPIRE video, Sharing My Story.
To find encouragement through music, tune in to Andrew Ripp’s, For the Love of God.
10 Responses
I am surviving cancer and heart valve disease for the love of God.
So sorry to hear that you have had that as part of your journey. Praying that God continues to heal you and bring you health and you will share His impact on you with others as part of your story. 🙏🏻
It sounds like you have experienced God’s love and presence in suffering. This is a truth to share for sure. Praying you joy and sustained healing today.
Telling the story how Jesus changed my life and set me free from my fears, forgiving my sins and make me a new person, is the greatest blessing I know. It fills my heart with gratitude and overflowing joy!
We can tell, Verena! You inspire us all to see and share the Good News that is woven deeply into our stories.
Thank you all for sharing your understanding and faith and God’s love in your responses to my story!
I feel humbled and honored to be mentioned in this blog. My life has been similar to a roller coaster but at the end, God’s love for me was given freely and my roller coaster became a smooth sailing adventure, not always calm, a few storms and windy trials from time to time. Without my faith and trust in Jesus, I would have fallen. He keeps me on level ground and helps me through all the sudden changes and surprises that arise. Even when I don’t see a way, He holds me up and brings me through.
Many of us can relate to the roller coaster experience. You remind us that the presence of Christ can be with us! What a reassurance.
Verena has helped me to share my story as well. I went to Sunday School and Church since I was 3 years of age and loved hearing the stories about Jesus, but after my 4 children began “leaving the nest”, I felt something was missing. After attending a “Christian Women’s Club” Outreach Meeting in Orleans many years ago, the emptiness in my soul was filled to overflowing with the Love of God after I accepted Jesus into my heart as Lord and Saviour. My greatest Joy is attending Bible Studies with women from our Ottawa South Women’s Connection. 💕
And you are still sharing your story here and we’re grateful! Women’s Connections, Christian Women’s Clubs, and Bible studies have helped to point countless women to a personal relationship with Jesus. I pray we continue the legacy of guiding people to be filled to overflowing in the love of Christ.