Straight shooters sometimes get shot at. Imagine a high-ranking government official who reveals the dirty truth about the vested interests in government of some major corporation. While many average citizens would applaud such honesty, it would likely be career suicide - or worse - for this honest whistle-blower.
The newly-converted Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, went public with his new-found faith as a straight-shooting truth-speaker. His initial message was bluntly simple: "He (Jesus) is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20). Now, this simple message hardly seems controversial, but it was anything but popular with the Jewish people and leaders who were instrumental in having Jesus crucified.
"When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him" (Acts 9:23).
"And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death" (Acts 9:29).
How could the simple truth that Jesus is the Son of God be so threatening? History indicates that the death threats against Paul for confessing this simple truth were not isolated; many have faced ridicule, injury, and even death for similar professions and confessions. Why is the truth that Jesus is the Son of God so threatening?
Several years ago the founder of a well-known weight loss program differentiated Jesus as the Son of God from the popular confession that He is God, the Son. Such an admission hardly seems radical; after all, Jesus on numerous occasions feely admitted that He was the Son of God. But this public acknowledgement of a clear Bible truth was essentially career suicide. Speaking engagements diminished. Book sales declined. Vehement accusations proliferated on web sites and in popular Christian magazines. All because of the simple confession that Jesus is the Son of God.
We do well to never underestimate both the power of this basic truth and the opposition to it. Jesus Himself has promised to build His church upon it (Matthew 16:16-18), while the forces of hell are hell-bent on destroying it. It is a truth that is at the heart of an epic struggle and battle.
Boldly embrace and declare this profound truth in every corner of your world, being fully aware of both its power for miraculous transformation as well the stiff opposition to it. Truly, He is the Son of God - no less, and no more.
Yes, straight shooters do sometimes get shot it. But truth matters, and truth transforms. Do we love the truth and the Truth-Giver enough to declare this vital truth about His Son? A vitally-important future conversation with the Son of God (Matthew 10:32-33) centers on what we do with this truth in this life.
Steve
The newly-converted Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, went public with his new-found faith as a straight-shooting truth-speaker. His initial message was bluntly simple: "He (Jesus) is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20). Now, this simple message hardly seems controversial, but it was anything but popular with the Jewish people and leaders who were instrumental in having Jesus crucified.
"When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him" (Acts 9:23).
"And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death" (Acts 9:29).
How could the simple truth that Jesus is the Son of God be so threatening? History indicates that the death threats against Paul for confessing this simple truth were not isolated; many have faced ridicule, injury, and even death for similar professions and confessions. Why is the truth that Jesus is the Son of God so threatening?
Several years ago the founder of a well-known weight loss program differentiated Jesus as the Son of God from the popular confession that He is God, the Son. Such an admission hardly seems radical; after all, Jesus on numerous occasions feely admitted that He was the Son of God. But this public acknowledgement of a clear Bible truth was essentially career suicide. Speaking engagements diminished. Book sales declined. Vehement accusations proliferated on web sites and in popular Christian magazines. All because of the simple confession that Jesus is the Son of God.
We do well to never underestimate both the power of this basic truth and the opposition to it. Jesus Himself has promised to build His church upon it (Matthew 16:16-18), while the forces of hell are hell-bent on destroying it. It is a truth that is at the heart of an epic struggle and battle.
Boldly embrace and declare this profound truth in every corner of your world, being fully aware of both its power for miraculous transformation as well the stiff opposition to it. Truly, He is the Son of God - no less, and no more.
Yes, straight shooters do sometimes get shot it. But truth matters, and truth transforms. Do we love the truth and the Truth-Giver enough to declare this vital truth about His Son? A vitally-important future conversation with the Son of God (Matthew 10:32-33) centers on what we do with this truth in this life.
Steve
posted by steve @ 9:12 AM
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