After I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I really wanted to know what the Bible said about the issues I was facing, but I didn’t know where to look.
Then I discovered a treasure in the back of my mom’s big Bible. It was a section with various subjects printed in bold letters. Underneath the headings was a list of verses that addressed each topic.
I’d copy the list and go back to my room to read through them. I didn’t know at the time that it was called a concordance—I was just happy I could find the truth I was looking for.
Are you interested in the truth?
We’d all like accurate information when it comes to political, medical, or financial issues, but what about spiritual truth? Do you want to know what God says about Himself, you, and the world around you, or are you uninterested or too busy to find out?
Many people today are content to live with half-truths, which are really lies. This even happens to faithful churchgoers. They listen to sermons week after week, but the messages never sink into their hearts or affect their behavior.
The apostle James said this kind of person is a hearer of the Word but not a doer. He’s like a man who looks in a mirror and quickly forgets what he’s seen (James 1:22-24).
Today we need believers who don’t just hear truth, but build it into their lives so it permeates everything they think and do.
When Jesus prayed for us in John 17:17, He said, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” When God sanctifies us, He sets us apart to walk in His ways and will. This process is directly connected to the Bible.
One of the best helps we have for living in a godly manner is knowing and applying the truth of Scripture. Our whole being is involved—with our minds we learn truth, with our hearts we love it, and with our wills we live it out in everyday life.
Before we dig into how to build truth into our lives, let’s consider why it’s necessary.
Truth is God’s protection.
Our society is rampant with deceptions because this world system is ruled by Satan, who’s a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). But we don’t have to fall for his falsehoods because we have the truth of God’s Word to refute and overcome his schemes.
When we’re grounded in the Scripture, we’ll be able to avoid his traps.
Truth is also God’s provision for our security, stability, and comfort.
When doubts and anxieties come, set your mind on God’s promises. They’ll anchor your soul through difficulties, comfort you in sorrows, and give you courage to face the challenges of life. But when you don’t know truth, you’ll be tossed around like the waves of the sea (Eph. 4:13-15).
Now that you see why building truth into your life is so important, you can take the first
step—ask the Lord to give you the desire to know His truth.
You can be certain that this is exactly what God wants you to do, so this request is a prayer He will answer (1 John 5:14-15). But be aware that building truth into your life is not going to be a quick fix. It’s like any construction project—it takes time and consistency.
Next, you need to put that desire into action by seeking truth.
The easiest way I’ve found to begin the search is to identify a point of need in your life. It could be overcoming sin, needing help with a relational issue, or some other practical matter.
This is where the concordance I talked about earlier comes in handy. Let’s say you are struggling to forgive someone. Look up that topic and read the Scripture passages on that subject. What does the Bible say about God’s forgiveness of you and your responsibility to forgive others (Eph. 4:32)?
Truth can be painful, but it’s always cleansing.
Now it’s time to apply what you’ve learned.
Remember, you’re building truth into your mind, but it doesn’t stop there. What you learn is meant to influence how you think, what you do, and how you feel.
For example, knowing that you have no right to hang onto a wrong done to you should prompt you to stop rehearsing the offense in your mind and nursing the hurt in your emotions (Matt. 18:21-22). Instead, keep releasing it to the Lord until it no longer has a hold on you.
Finally, continue building one block of truth on another.
Your pursuit shouldn’t stop with the needs in your life. Keep reading through the Bible to build a foundational knowledge of God and His ways. This Book is inexhaustible. When you find one nugget of truth, you’ll long for more, until God’s Word becomes a great delight rather than a burdensome duty (Ps. 19:7-14).
The rewards of building truth into your life are worth any sacrifice you may have to make. You’ll develop a firm trust in the Lord that grounds you in every situation. And you’ll gain spiritual discernment to see when something doesn’t quite line up with the Word.
There’s no better way to spend your time than building the truth of Scripture into your life for your protection, provision, and an awesome reward.
Prayerfully yours,
Charles F. Stanley
P.S. One of the ways In Touch will continue to have an impact for the gospel long after the Lord calls me home is through our Messenger Lab devices. They’re solar powered, and contain the Bible along with sermons and other material to explain the gospel and develop mature believers. The result is more lives built on the truth. Praise God!