Lovers of Truth

August 26, 2009 at 4:06 pm Posted in Discipleship

Right there in 2 Thessalonians there is a fairly terrifying verse,

They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

This passage is a clarion call to make sure you are walking in truth! We are all susceptible to falling short of God’s best and it is vital that we set in place around us mechanisms to stay in the truth. Second only to staying in the Word is being accountable to people around you. I believe that there are two types of accountability we need to have set up. Vertical and horizontal.

Your horizontal relationships are your peer level relationships. First, look at those relationships and answer a few of these questions.

Are the people you are hanging out with going in the same direction in life you want to go in? If not, this is a sure fire indication that you have compromised your walk.
Are there significant areas in these people’s lives that you admire?
Have these folks ever challenged you in your walk? In righteousness? In wisdom? If not, why?

Your vertical relationships are going to be fewer in number but equally important. These are the relationships you have with your pastor, spiritual parents, or mentors. If you do not have anyone like this in your life chances are you are walking in a great deal of pride that has lead you to being isolated. This is the plan of the devil. Look at the relationship you have with these people in your life and consider these things.

Do you have a bunch of these people in your life? Chances are you shop for a word that tickles your ears.
The last time someone that you look up to brought you correction or challenged you how did you react?
Do these people know that you look to them as your pastor/mentor?
Have you told them that you are open to correction and reproof?
If you don’t have anyone like this in your life, how perfect does someone have to be for God to use them in this capacity in your life? Are you really trying to keep control?

Accountability to a person does not replace your relationship with Jesus or the role of the Holy Ghost. These people do not own you and they will get it wrong from time to time. Just because you have good horizontal relationships does not mean that they won’t let you down with bad advice. Just because you have good vertical relationships does not mean that you don’t have to seek the will of God for your life straight from God. No person can replace Him in your life.

But God put other people on this earth so that we can all work together to be the Body, each supplying our part to the equation. Without these relationships you are surely lacking in your walk.

Make a promise to God and yourself that you will seek this vital safety net and pray that Jesus will supply your need.