Lie Not Against the Truth

Thought For Today - August 2
Lie Not Against the Truth
By: Robert A. Searles

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom decendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:13-16.

Dear friends, one of the methods that Satan uses to try to destroy us and to ruin our testimony as a Christian is to cause us to harbor bitter envying and strife in our heart. Satan knows the effect that bitterness and strife can have on our mind and our bodies. It can cause an imbalance in the chemical make up in our bodies, eventually causing breakdown and illness, and it can cause our thinking process to be irrational and perverted; also, it can cause our thoughts to be turned away from our blessed Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ. My friend, if there is any trace of bitterness or strife in your heart this morning as you begin this new day, glory not , but confess it to God and lie not against the truth.

Jealousy, envy and covetousness are all grievous sins and displeasing to God our father who has promised to be generous to his children and to provide for all our needs. Bitterness, envy, strife, jealousy, and covetousness are the elements which lead to war.

"From whence come wars and fighting among you? come thy not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and can not obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not because ye ask not. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." James 4:1-3.

Dear friend in Christ, turn to your Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ this morning, and to the written word which he has given us, and allow the Holy Spirit, through the word of God, to wash away all this bitterness and to cleanse us and make us fit vessels for the master's use. Get into the word of God, and by the washing of the word, be clean.

"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy, And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." James 3:16-18.

"But he giveth more grace, wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts , ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:6-10