Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Discerning truth Thursday, December 12, 2002 Isaiah 7:14 & Luke 1:41-45 Isaiah 7:14 The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (meaning "God with us"). Luke 1:41-45 41) And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42) Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43) But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44) For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45) Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" How did Isaiah know what he knew? And how did Elizabeth and her baby know what they knew? They could not have known if they were not told. When I was a child I believed what I was told. That changed gradually, as I watched adults be skeptical, as I saw that sometimes what I was told wasn't true, as I read books that invited me to experience multiple levels of reality, relativity, and "truth." Now I find myself inevitably taking almost everything with those most famous grains of salt. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself." These words remind me that nothing matters except God and people. Jesus also said, "I am the truth." So to know truth ... is to know Jesus. Living in an academic, scientific, positivistic society I am too accustomed to the modern concept that "truth" is an idea or a fact. Elizabeth and Isaiah were not so modern. They "knew" because God spoke to them. And what doubt they might have had they brushed away ... and instead, believed. Quiet my mind, Lord, slow my thoughts, my analysis. Let me know you, know what is true, and find your way to freedom. "; Add      Edit    Delete