Daniel 2:24-3:30 / 1 Peter 4:7-5:14 / Psalm 119:81-96 / Proverbs 28:15-16
When people speak, we either believe what they say or doubt the validity of what they are sharing. Some speakers are credible, and some are not. The credible are likely those we know personally or those who have been recommended to us. We may also believe their words because what they are speaking about is familiar to us.
On the other hand, there may be times we do not know and trust the speaker. Perhaps they have a poor reputation or maybe we don’t know them at all. Or maybe the things they are sharing are things we’ve studied and disproved for ourselves. Some go into conversations with an open heart, and some go in suspiciously. I believe it’s wise to go in with an open heart, but to guard wisely what you place into your foundational belief system.
I prefer to be known as a woman of her word. Lying is something I can’t tolerate. As a matter of fact, when one of my children was young (I will withhold the name to protect the reformed) this child told lies on a regular basis. I finally got so tired of the lying that I threatened with this, “God is going to tell me every time you lie!” I walked out of that room praying for God to back me up. And He did!
This child is now an adult who loves truth, so we tell this story from time to time and just laugh. A lot has changed!
When we’re unsure whether to believe what we’re hearing, we can at least be certain there is One whose word is always Truth. That being true, we can hold the things we hear in comparison to His words to determine if what we’re hearing is factual.
Here is the verse that caught my attention from today’s reading – Psalm 119:89 NLT Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven. If you have studied much scripture, you know that sometimes Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word, or the Logos. This is not the same Hebrew word here. The word used here is dabar (daw-baw) and means speech, words, or utterance. So, this verse refers to the words of a person and not the person Himself.
However, if God has spoken something we can be assured it is Truth. If He says He will do something, He will. If He says He is a certain way, be assured it is true. If God has said it, you can confidently put your trust in what you heard. The next question is, “How do we hear God speak?”
We hear Him through the Bible, which is His written Word. We hear Him through His voice speaking to our hearts. We hear Him in dreams and visions. We hear Him when others speak truth. If what you’re hearing seems contrary to the truth you’ve come to trust, it’s time to do some research.
I encourage you not to take everything you hear as truth. There are times you will hear full truth, times you’ll hear partial truth, and times you’ll hear a total fabrication. We must learn to discern the difference. Many false religions have begun because lies were mixed with truth and gullible people believed what they heard instead of studying to confirm.
I’m not being disrespectful in calling some gullible. Some are ignorant or uninformed and some believe everything they hear. That is not wise. If something doesn’t sit well with you, ask someone for facts to back up the claims. Study God’s Word, ask a Bible teacher you trust for help, or whatever you must do to settle your heart only on truth.
As a final authority, always check what you’re hearing with scripture. If you don’t understand what you’re reading, ask for help. There is no shame in asking someone to assist you in interpreting what you’re hearing, and you may go away much wiser.
