Bible Society of South Africa

What is the truth? – 18 February 2021

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

(Di)temana ya Bibele

MATEU 7

Temošo mabapi le baprofeta ba maaka

15“Le itoteng go baprofeta ba maaka, ba ba tlago go lena ka boleta bjalo ka dinku, mola ka therešo e le diphiri tše bogale.

MATEU 7:15NSO00Bula go Mmadi wa Bibele

JOHANESE 17

17Ikgethwafaletše bona ka mantšu a gago, ona e lego a therešo; gape tše di bolelwago ke wena ke yona therešo.

JOHANESE 17:17NSO00Bula go Mmadi wa Bibele

2 TIMOTHEOSE 3

16Mangwalo a Makgethwa ka moka a ngwadilwe ka go huetšwa ke Modimo, gomme a hola go ruta therešo, go kgala ba ba fošago, go sokolla batho, le go laya batho gore ba phele ka tshwanelo, 17gore motho yo a ineetšego Modimo e be yo a kgonago gape a loketšego go dira mediro yohle ye mebotse.

2 TIMOTHEOSE 3:16-17NSO00Bula go Mmadi wa Bibele

In China, a man known Kong was arrested earlier this week after earning millions of dollars by selling a saline solution and mineral water as a Covid-19 vaccine. He smuggled 58,000 doses abroad. This scam is common in China.

We live in an era where truth and lies are so intertwined at times that it becomes difficult to distinguish between what is right and wrong – almost like Kong’s “vaccine”. Something that “looks” right on the surface may be the enemy’s lies “packaged” to deceive us. Jesus warned his disciples against this deception in Matthew 7:15:”Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” So what is truth? In John 17:17 we read: “. . . your word is truth.”

If we do not bother to go back to God’s Word and read it on a regular basis, sooner or later we might accept whatever is presented (in media, in church and even by people close to you) even though it may be in direct opposition to the Word of God.

How do we know the Word of God is true? In 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 we read: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Kong could deceive people only until someone compared his solution to the real one. In the same way, the enemy’s lies are exposed once we pick up the Word of God. Let us make it therefore our aim to not just receive and believe everything we hear – even from preachers. Let us make God’s Word our compass for what is true and let us ask God to guide us through His Spirit to know the truth in every situation. God bless.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Word. Guide me through Your Holy Spirit to read it and reflect on it. Help me to distinguish between truth and lies on a daily basis. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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