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Monday, May 23, 2011

What If It's True?

My mom's Bible.
Our pastor has this habit of quoting a Scripture, then leaning over the podium, looking at us intently and asking, "What if it's true?"  The first time I heard him ask that I was amused and thought it was kind of a silly question for him to be asking.  Here we all are, sitting in church, professing Christians, and we all say that we believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God.  Why would he ask us, "What if it's true?"  He should know that we believe it to be true. 

I went home from church that day and it just really kept bugging me.  I sat down and thought about what he had said (he's said it dozens of times since and I smile, knowing what he means).  It finally dawned on me...the meaning behind it.  We say we believe in something...a Scripture, a saying, a teaching, an ideal.  But do our lives reflect that we believe it's true?  Do we live like it's true?  Or are we just giving lip service to something we really don't quite believe will work in our lives.

For example, the Bible says "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind."  II Timothy 1:7  What if it's true?  I say I believe it.  But do I live like I believe it?  Can you tell I believe it?  Does my life look like I don't have fear or do I seem fearful?  Do I look like I walk in love and have a sound mind? Or am I grouchy, mean spirited and out of sorts with people?  Really, what if it's true?  Shouldn't it be evident in my life if it's true?


What our pastor is trying to tell us is that if we say we believe something to be true, then our lives should reflect that belief.  What if it's true that God is love?  What if it's true that I'm forgiven?  What if it's true that He will never leave me nor forsake me?  Can you tell that I believe those things by looking at my life? Our pastor is trying to make us think about what we say we believe.

Thinking this way has really changed my life.  Now, when I say I believe in something, I examine my life to see if it's truly something that has settled in my heart as reality; or is it something that I hope is true or think it's only true for others or it would be so nice if it were true?  Are these beliefs merely head knowledge or have they become heart knowledge to me?

The Bible says, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).  What if it's true?

From His lap,

9 comments:

  1. So true...so true! It's all so true! If I don't believe that, then I am not my Father's child! Great post, Erin!

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  2. I know, Lynn! It really makes me think...do I believe what I say I believe!

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  3. I love this post Erin! Thank you for having me check out your blog. Nuggets of truth is aptly titled. Made me think this beautiful Sunday of the source of all truth, the word: Jesus! And a reminder that we need to live our Christian lives not just give lip service! What if the glorious truths He said on this earth are true...than our lives should be world changing too! Thank you!!!!

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  4. Thank you so much, Libby! What if it's true?

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  5. You have given me some things to think about. I was taken to church my entire childhood and believed a lot of things and then came to doubt only the things man said not Gods word. I need to examine my life to see if it reflects what I believe. I also feel the statement "what if it's true" could be applied to various aspects of our lives. Thanks again for an inspiring post.

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  6. That is so true, Karen. It can apply to anything in life we say that we believe in! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  7. I love your post and how your mom highlighted certain sections in the Bible. That shows commitment to read the Bible, we're so high-tech now that we carry our Bible in our iPads, cell phones and such. But I guess you shouldn't forget to carry the Bible in your heart. Thanks for connecting on voiceBoks. It's great to be friends.
    have a Great awesOme Day!!!
    Barbara
    http://spanishforkids-jbplbarbara.blogspot.com

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  8. Thanks for your kind words, Barbara! My mom was a very committed woman and she always said that the promises of God are "yes and amen."

    I'm so glad to meet you. I will visit your blog!
    ~Erin

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  9. Really loved this post & it's so true! I will have to stop by more often. (i follow you on twitter too)

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Thank you for giving us a little nugget of truth from your heart!

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