| Listen here.
My word for the year is truth. In February’s blog, I gave this definition of truth. Truth is reality, and reality is what Jesus says, does, hears, and sees. Every aspect of this definition is affirmed in God’s Word. I’m sure you remember what Jesus said about Himself to His disciples. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
WALKING IN THE TRUTH
The path of life we walk in is sometimes in the Bible referred to as our “walk.”  The idea of the way one “walks” was used by the apostle John in his three epistles to describe the character of the way they lived their lives on a daily basis.
1 John 1:6.  “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;”
2 John 4. “I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.”
3 John 3-4. “For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”
Hopefully the definition above helps us understand what John referred to as walking in truth. How much does what Jesus says, does, hears, and sees impact our words and actions each day? Are we walking in the same path as Jesus, the path of truth? Are we aware that we are always in His presence? To abide in Jesus is to walk according to what He believes and says, which we find in the Bible. As we WALK IN THE TRUTH, we respond to the circumstances in this world by applying what Jesus believes and says.
LOVING THE TRUTH
We see the importance of loving the truth in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians about the return of Jesus and the fate of those who will not be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12. “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
Everyone who doesn’t love the truth will perish. Because they don’t love the truth, they are deluded by influences in the world which take them down a path to destruction. We see that they believe what is false–what is contrary to what Jesus says–and therefore they walk in darkness, taking pleasure in wickedness. This passage encourages us to love the truth. May we listen to God’s Word and conform our thinking and walking to His Word while being careful not to give ear to the voices of those who are perishing?
Love Truth is to Love Jesus
John 14:15. Â “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:21.  “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
John 17:17.  “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”
If we love Jesus, we love His Word, which is truth. If we have received a love for the truth, then we know God is for us, we are His, and we are ready for Jesus’ return. I hope that encourages you to daily fill your mind and heart with God’s Word. I encourage you with what Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Col. 3:16). I know you will do just that because you have a love of the truth.
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVING THE TRUTHÂ
It’s easy as parents to think that if we are teaching our children the truth that they will be anchored for life. One of the most troubling realities of our time is the apostasy occurring in the church. All of those who fall away have one thing in common: they don’t have a love for the truth. They might have heard the truth growing up, but their hearts were not transformed by it. I encourage you to not only talk about the truth, but emphasize the heart response without neglecting the teaching of knowledge. As we study and teach the Word of God, may the Holy Spirit fill us with love for Jesus and the truth which ensures not only our own salvation, but also those we love and teach.Â
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