Truth is...

What an encouraging verse. It is overflowing with hope and glad tidings.

But there's more here than what a casual reading of this modern translation communicates. Take a look at my go-to translation for deeper understanding: the Amplified Bible...

Who will eat and be satisfied? Not just the poor, but the afflicted. Put aside small thoughts of financial need and consider the vast number of people who experience affliction of body or mind or circumstances beyond their control.

And what does it mean to seek the Lord? Not just being open to the idea of Somebody Bigger Than You and I, but to require Him as their greatest need.

And what will all this result in? Not just a heart that will rejoice with everlasting joy, but one that has shaken off the dull march toward death that comes from being on Planet Earth and live[s] forever!

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Truth is...It is no small thing that this verse is in the midst of the psalm Jesus quoted on the cross. While Jesus unbearably suffered both physically and emotionally, your joy and satisfaction were on his mind!

      

Pontius Pilate was probably a bit peeved at the Jewish religious leaders who basically forced him to crucify Jesus.

He declared that he found Jesus innocent of any kind of capital offence, but the Jewish Sanhedrin members and the rabble they had roused insisted that Jesus was trying to overthrow the Roman government by declaring himself King.

Pilate had Jesus beaten to within an inch or two of his life in an attempt to win the Jewish preacher some sympathy from the mob . . . with no success.

He gave the crowd a choice between the Prince of Peace and a thieving murderer and they chose the convicted felon, demanding the Romans free Barabbas and crucify Jesus.

But Pilate had the last word when he posted Jesus' crime in three languages so every soldier, every citizen, and every passerby would see the authority of Rome on display: Here's what we think of your so-called leader. Here's the power we have over every last one of you. You are not the boss of me!

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Truth is...Pilate was not expressing faith in Jesus by labeling him "King of the Jews." He had no idea how accurate he was, nor how his bowing to the will of the Jewish leaders would result in the world's salvation and a future time when "at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (Philippians 2:10-11 CSB)

      

As the story goes (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25), the disciples had plenty of cause to be afraid:

• They were quietly making their way across the Sea of Galilee when, out of nowhere, this huge storm blew in.
• The wind-swept waves were crashing over the sides, swamping the vessel.
• Their beloved leader seemed so unconcerned that he was actually taking a nap in the back of the soon-to-be-sinking boat.

But I have a different question: Why did Jesus say they had little faith? What does their faith have to do with being fearful when in mortal danger?

The answer is in Mark 4:35 and Luke 8:22. Before they even started, Jesus said, "Let's go over to the other side." If Jesus says your little group is going to the other side, you're going to make it to the other side. (And I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't mean the bottom side.)

And what about you? Why are you afraid?

• Waiting for the biopsy results
• Heading to a job interview
• Wondering if anyone will ever love you
• Questioning if you'll be able to retire

Jesus has a word for you today: "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

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Truth is...Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. (Psalm 121:4 NLT)

      

A few years ago (or maybe it was several years ago; at this point of my life I have trouble knowing the difference), I got involved in an online discussion about whether Jesus ever swore.

You know...foul language...four-letter words...cussing.

I stood firmly in the camp that said, "No way! 'Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth' and all that."

The opposing view argued that Jesus, while being the Son of God, was also fully human, dealing with people who didn't understand him. So of course, they thought, he used gritty language to express himself or vent his emotions.

Inherent in this line of reasoning was the belief that "dirty words" are not a sin anyway. That, of course, led to a completely different tangent that left me a little deflated because, after all, I cannot explain why certain words are on The Naughty List while other words, referring to the exact same bodily functions (or whatever), are perfectly acceptable in polite society.

The good news is that we don't need to solve that riddle right now, because I don't think that's what James is talking about in this verse anyway. Take a look at how he expands on the thought two chapters later:

We all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! (James 3:2-10 NLT)

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Truth is...It is not so much our word choice, but the intended result of our words that reveals our character and the extent to which we are allowing the Holy Spirit to affect our human nature.

      

In the 1990 motion picture Pretty Woman, the prostitute played by Julia Roberts refused to kiss her clients on the lips because it was "too personal." There was a line of vulnerability and true intimacy (as opposed to, in her mind, simple sexuality) that was not to be crossed.

In a world of political spins and publicist reframings, hearing someone plainly answer a sincere question can be just as surprising and impactful as a tender, heartfelt kiss on the lips. It can open a world of respectful communication...a world greatly different from the norms of today.

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Truth is...the foundation of all meaningful relationships.