Morning Devotional
July 26, 2005
"Down in the Dumps" (Part 3)     
    by Don Emmitte

Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the end of the world has come. These people left our churches because they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left us, it proved that they do not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don't know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and falsehood. And who is the great liar? The one who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Such people are antichrists, for they have denied the Father and the Son. Anyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father either. But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:18-23 NLT).

 

When Jesus spoke encouragement to Paul in Acts 23:11, He was telling Paul something Paul probably already knew. Paul had wanted to go to Rome, but the trial that was in Paul’s life at the immediate time seemed to threaten that journey. Paul was not just a follower of God, he was a passionate follower of God. He had great conversations with the Living God. I’m sure Paul at one time knew God was the one sending him to Rome, but Paul got discouraged with life and couldn’t rely on the truth that he already knew.

 

In my experience, most of the time when God steps into the storms of our life and brings us encouragement, He simply reminds us of a truth we already know. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you already know that God loves you. You already know that He has a plan for your life. You already know that He wants you to trust Him completely. You already know that one day He is taking you to a better place and that you will spend an eternity in Heaven with Him. Sometimes you and I just need to be reminded of the truth we already know.

 

Are you struggling with life? Maybe you should quit trying to discover a “new” truth or revelation and just listen for the truth you already know. Does God love you forever? Will He truly never leave you nor forsake you? Will He who began a good work be faithful to complete it? Does He want you to cast all your cares upon Him? The answer to these questions is an unequivocal YES! Maybe next you need to trust in the truth you already know!