In Theory or in Truth?

eMoment by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 11:33-36

33  No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar

or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may

see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body.

When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light,

but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.

35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.

36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark,

it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.

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“Be careful lest the light in you be darkness”

Be careful.

What hope is there if we have the Gospel but don’t live it?

Be careful that you don’t believe something intellectually

when essentially you are blinded by self, sin, and the things of this world.

If someone thinks they walk in the light because they go to church,

have warm feelings, or give to the poor, they are deceived.

Many think they are in the light, but their deeds proclaim

something else, and they will spend eternity in darkness.

Be careful that you not only
think you walk in the light,

but that your deeds bear witness to the Light

in your heart.

Just because we believe something in theory

doesn’t mean we live like it’s truth.

In fact many Christians, unknowingly,

are not living the Gospel.

What is the cure for such a disease?

How can we be sure that our words, our choices,

and our actions reflect our beliefs?

Do we say one thing and do another?

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,

deceiving yourselves.

What is happening?

What are we doing?

What are we NOT doing?

We sit down and do our quiet time,

read God’s Word,

perhaps even write it out,

and fill in blanks.

But then we don’t ask ourselves,

“Am I living according to this?

Does this reflect what is truly in my heart?”

We don’t really take it to heart.

We fail to come up under God’s Word,

submit to it, confess our sin, and repent and then

look to Him to fill us with truth.

Do you say that you love God,

yet you don’t make time to be with Him each day in His Word?

Do you say that God is your All-in-all,

yet the things of this world are still so important to you?

Do you say that you place all of your trust in God,

but you live in fear, worry, or anxiety in your heart?

Do you say that God is your God,

 yet you know inside that the world still revolves around you?

James 1:23-25

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word

and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural

face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away

and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks

into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no

hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Confess your sins and be forgiven.

Repent, turn toward God and draw near to Him.

Deal seriously with your sin.

Take the light of God’s Word to heart.

Let it shine into the darkness that remains.

Don’t allow sin and darkness to reign.

Overcome the darkness!

Let the grace of God dispel the darkness.

Be filled with Christ and walk in the Light of Life!

Luke 11:36

If then your whole body is full of light,

having no part dark, it will be wholly bright,

as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.

Ephesians 5:8

For at one time you were darkness,

but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light.