"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place." — Psalm 51:6
Jim’s story (yesterday’s devotional) illustrates several important, but often misunderstood, dynamics about sin and temptation.
Why did Jim fall into sin?
Jim was a church-going, Bible-believing Christian for over 30 years. Jim knew the truth. He had bucketfuls of truth stored in his head. And Jesus declared that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). But, when the right combination of circumstances came along, Jim discovered that he wasn’t free at all.
Why?
Because truth in our heads won’t change lies in our hearts. This is why you can pump all kinds of truth into your head and still sin.
David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, clarifies the real need in Psalm 51:6: "Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place."
How do you get truth to the inner parts?
You open the door to Jesus. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus tells us that He stands at the door knocking, waiting for us to open the door to Him. We like to use this verse as a salvation text. But I believe it is also a guide to the Christian life. Yes, we open the front door of our hearts to Christ at the moment of conversion. But throughout our lives, Christ is knocking at the doors inside our hearts. In every place where our hearts harbor pain-causing lies, Jesus wants to bring soothing, encouraging truth.
Put another way, there is simply no substitute for experiencing God. There are no shortcuts. God doesn’t want us to just know about Him; He wants us to know Him.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries?
Victims of violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace,
wholeness, the power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries.
Those ensnared by addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being
restored. Families are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in
restricted lands who face persecution are finding strength and
encouragement. Young believers are learning how to walk with the Lord,
and people are coming into the faith for the first time. None of this
happens as a result of one person’s efforts, but rather this is God’s
work as He blesses the sacrifice of many people including yourself. We
partner with you, with other ministries, and, most significantly, with
the Lord. That’s how the supernatural happens.
Discoveries Devotional – Inspiration in Your Inbox is provided daily by
Dwight Clough Ministries, Inc.
1223 West Main Street #228
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 USA
Dwight Clough Ministries is supported by your donations.
Visit DwightClough.com for more information.