Devotionals

Can Folks Tell?

by Doug Laird 
12/13/24
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Salvation is instantaneous and complete, being the result of having decided to believe when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message.

But discipleship, that being the learning (1) of and the applying (2) of the principles of the Word of God to ALL that we think, say, and do, is a never-ending process.

What we know about the Written Word (The Bible) and what we know about the Living Word (The Lord Jesus Christ) are one in the same (3).

Scripture reveals to us, “… the mind of Christ (1Cor.2: 16 NASB2020).”

It will become apparent to observers when a born-again believer spends quality time with the living and the written Word of God.

‘Now when they (the Jewish rulers, elders and scribes) observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained (according to their standards), they were amazed, and began to recognize them (and there source of confidence) as having been with Jesus (Acts 4: 13 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

Paul, who had been educated and trained according to their standards, (4) would also speak out boldly and with confidence after spending quality time with Jesus (5).

From where does this outspoken confidence come?

In order to have bold, outspoken confidence, one must #1 overcome all the inhibitors that would otherwise hold him back, and #2 have unwavering faith in what has been revealed to him or her.

One begins to overcome all inhibitors by learning what the truth is.

“IF you *continue in My word, THEN you are truly My disciples; and (THEN) you will know the truth, and (THEN) the truth will set you free (from all inhibitors)”. -John 8: 32 NASB2020 parentheses mine.

Note that in order to *continue, one must engage in an o-n-g-o-i-n-g process of taking in, processing, refining, and applying the doctrine that one has circulating in his or her edified soul structure.

Like everything else in the spiritual realm, the born again believer must learn to do everything through the enabling power (6) that God supplies, being filled by God the Holy Spirit (7).

In closing, let’s get personal, and ask ourselves the following question. By the way I think, speak, and conduct myself, can the observers around me tell that I spend quality time with the Living Word of God (8) and the Written Word of God (9)?

(1) 2Pet. 3: 18 (2) James 1: 22 (3) Heb.4: 10/John 1: 1 (4) Acts 22: 3 (5) Gal.1: 17, 18 (6) John 15: 5 (7) Acts 4: 8 (8) Heb. 4: 10 (9) John 1: 1