And The Truth Shall Set You Free....
And the Truth Shall Set You Free by LaKisha M. Johnson
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,” the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:14.
I remember growing up, hearing my uncle say, “LaKisha, an excuse ain’t nothing but a lie.” I am sure he got that from someone, but It didn’t register in my psyche until I got older. He was saying to me, you can make all the excuses in the world, but if those excuses are contrary to the truth, then you are lying. Excuses keep us bound to things that are not true, they alter the perspective. For example, when people say “there’s nothing wrong with a little sin, God didn’t expect us to be free of sin. Remember, He said all men have sinned and fallen, short of the glory of God”. That is true to an extent, but it doesn’t excuse us to sin. In 1 Peter 1:16, “For it is written, be holy because, I am holy. He who knew, no sin, Jesus, became sin, it didn’t say he sinned (2 Cor 5:21). He stood in the “gap” for us, so that we could be reconciled to our Father. We can’t accept a twisted truth, we can only accept “the truth”, which is the Word of God. How do we live in the truth?
By understanding that Jesus is “the truth” and the only way we can get to Heaven, is by accepting Him . “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me, John 14:6”.
By understanding that sin is NOT pleasing to God. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.", 1 Corinthians 6:9
Keep a spirit of repentance, you will sin, you will mess up, but don’t take your salvation off, keep your heart towards God. "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalms 51:17". If you fall, get back up. Proverbs 24:16, “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
Constantly gird yourself with truth, study the Word of God (DAILY), so that you don’t conform to the patterns of this world. The word renews your mind. "Psalms 119:105, Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path". Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God--what is good and well-pleasing and perfect."
Remember there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1) only spiritual conviction, the word will convict you to a better life, sin leave you in a place of bondage. Hebrews 12:1, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, let us lay aside every weight that so easily, keeps us from drawing close to you . Holy Spirit, help us not to operate in “a truth” but to live by “the truth”, the Word of God. In Jesus Name. Amen
LaKisha M. Johnson is mom, author, motivational speaker, minister and teacher. She is the host of Coffee and Conversations on “facebook live” Monday-Friday at 5:00 am central standard time and Saturdays at 8:00 am central standard time. She hosts a pajama party for women, “Pillow Talk” several times throughout the year, walking them through God inspired truths, while providing a place of vulnerability and transparency to talk. To find out more information on her log on to lakishamjohnson.com and follow her on social media @justbeinglmj.