My mom wore a two-carat diamond necklace that hung from a gold chain around her neck. My dad had given it to her for an anniversary. Before you say, “Good for her,” keep reading.
One day, when she was shopping in my little hometown, she walked through an alley separating two buildings. This spunky seventy-something year old held several packages and her purse looped over her wrist.
About midway through the alley, three teenage boys on bicycles circled her like buzzards over roadkill. One hopped off his bike and grabbed at her necklace. The others continued circling and keeping watch.
But rather than give the would-be-robber what he wanted, mom dropped her packages and began hitting the boy over the head with her purse. I kid you not. Who knew people really did that?
She was so mad; she took a few swings at the other boys as well.
“You get out of here you little rascal!” she yelled. “Leave me alone! I’m going to get you, you little…” Truth be known, she probably yelled some words that I will not include in today’s devotion.
I think the guys were so startled that she fought back; they got on their bicycles and scurried away.
A few months later, mom took the two-carat diamond into the jewelers for cleaning. After close inspection he dropped his head and said, “Mrs. Edwards, I don’t know how to tell you this, but this diamond isn’t real. It’s a fake.”
A fake!
We’re not sure what happened. We’re not sure if my dad had been tricked and thought it was real, or if he knew it was a fake all along. He was already in heaven, so we couldn’t ask. (I bet my mom did when she got there though.)
Here’s what I learned that day. What we believe to be true affects the way we act and react. Personally. Spiritually. Emotionally. Click & Tweet!
For example: What do we believe about the Bible? What do we believe about this book written over a period of 1500 years with several different men holding the pen?
First, we must decide if we believe the Bible is true. Our eternal destiny depends on that one decision because of how we respond to it. For example, is Jesus Who the Bible says He is? Will we accept Him or reject Him?
Secondly, if we do believe the Bible is true, then we can let the Bible define and defend itself.
Paul states, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). The Greek word for “God-breathed” or as some translations say, “breathed out” is “theopneustos,” which means “inspired by God” or literally the very “breath of God.”
Some translations use the word, “inspired,” but it’s so much more! Inspired sounds like creative impulse. God-breathed means that every word in the original text of the Bible originated in the heart of God and was breathed into the heart of man so that they could write down exactly what God wanted to communicate.
2 Peter 1:20-21 says it this way: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (NIV).
So, here’s what I’m asking us to ask ourselves today.
Do I really believe that the Bible is true…all of it? Or do I just like to pick out verses that make me feel better or support what I want to believe and do anyway?
Oh sister, I am so convicted and convinced today. God’s Word is true.
How it must break God’s heart when His people ignore parts of The Truth that don’t align with what they want to be true.
But let’s go back to the alley. Three strapping teenage boys, in a secluded alley, were no match for my momma, but she should have never fought back. She could have been stabbed, shot, beaten, or killed. And for what? A fake diamond. Something that wasn’t true.
However, when it comes to the Word of God, it is not a fake that we wear around our necks in the form of a cross. It is real. It is true. I’d give my life for it. I stake my life on it.
LORD, sometimes it is difficult to know what is true and what is not. Thank You that we can know that Your Word is Truth. All of it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
How does believing the Bible is true change the way you live? React? Act? Click on comment and let’s share
Speaking of the truth, do you believe the truth about who God says you are? Do you doubt it that you are chosen, holy, valuable, complete and completely forgiven? Let my book, Enough: Silencing the Lies that Steal Your Confidence remind you of your true identity in Christ. Don’t let the enemy tell you any different.
Also, check out the laminated prayer card filled front and back
with Bible verses about your true identity as a child of God.
I wonder if you have a friend that needs to know these truths too.
Comments 30
Thank You Sister. I needed that Today.
Thank you for this awesome devotional.
It spoke to me loudly and clearly we need to make sure that Jesus is our all in all.
Thank you for this I have always believed everything the bible says
I needed to read this and get it in my spirit this morning to start my day! Thank you.
Your momma must have been quite
freighten to have stirred up so much energy to fight back like that.
I was expecting you to enlarge on what the Bible says to do in moments like that. 👍Can you expound on that? Or, could you show me how to go about getting the answer for myself?
I do believe the Bible is 100% true. Every single word.
We do hold on to what we believe is true. We are told so many lies these days, it is hard to know what is true or false. Anything that goes against God’s Word is false. The world wants everything to be accepted as normal. I believe we need to love everyone as Jesus loves us but we don’t have to agree with how they live their lives.
Our commission is to know Him and make Him known. I also think we need to add to that hold fast to His Word and let it be our guide.
Where can I get copies of the laminated cards affirming my identity as a child of God?
Author
http://Www.sharonjaynes.com on the store page.
hi sharen thank you so much for your post today i was talking with a friend on sunday who said the bible is not 100% true (he is not a christian and his name is jim if you want to pray for him) thank you for reminding me that the bible is 100% true
Love this
I believe every word is true. He is working on me to restore confidence and love to me. I struggle with being good enough.
This is so good and goes along in my walk and study and journey with the lord! So much out there to try and distract our attention from what is true .. but like you said , it’s our eternal destiny depends on what we believe and how we respond … I laughed when I thought this momma is so brave but boy is daddy gonna get a slap when she finds out her diamonds were fake hahaha.
Thank you for sharing !
Author
Isn’t that the truth!
Thank you so much Sharon for this timely devotional. I’ve come to realise that people from other religion die for the lies they believe in, while most Christians cannot live for the truth they prophess. Your mom was willingly ready to protect, or even die for that necklace, not just because of the necklace, but largely because of the one who gave it to her. That was how much she loved your father her husband. I am awakened from my slumber through today’s devotional, and I am convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the Word of God is real and true!!!
This was a great devotion. However, I would like to note that I don’t think when we get to Heaven, we’re going to be asking our loved ones questions. I believe that we’ll recognize but we will be more focused on the bride/bridegroom relationship. We need to have a rightful view of heaven as best as we can understand it from the truth given to us.
Author
That was just meant to be a funny.
I really love Gods ,due to a sermon this last sunday,I have beem just thanking and prayers God for a new day .I really enjoyed your devotion its fun to think of the joy we well have when we go to heaven.My mother just passed a couple of years ago .
I am struggling to believe and know without a doubt that the bible is really true. That it is God’s word and not means. How do you know for sure when it depends solely on faith? I must not have enough faith
For most of my ‘christian’ adult life I didn’t know what parts of the bible were true. There are many believers in that category and that’s due to a lack of correct teaching. The last few years I know beyond a shadow of doubt that ALL of the original text is Truth. Translation bias and seminary doctrines are some reasons for wrong understanding of Scripture.
I’ve been learning so much by the teaching of Tom Bradford from torahclass.com. Starting in Genesis we learn the foundation of our faith and who God is.
I wish that I knew in my younger years that the Scripture has all the regulations for living.
May God bless you with the knowledge of His Truth.
This is a beautiful message. Our children and grandchildren are being influenced by so many lies by our society. We need armies of prayer warriors for their souls that they will choose God’s truths.
Thank you for another awesome devotion, Sharon! I absolutely believe every Word is 100% God’s Truth – every book is a foreshadow of & points to Christ Jesus Who is the Way, the TRUTH & the LIFE🙌🙏💗
I do believe every word in the Bible is truth! Thank you for this article.
Very on point view of scripture. If you believe the Bible 100% I have a question for you. What day does the entire Bible say we should worship on? Thank you for your reply!
Author
The Jewish Church worships on the Sabbath. The Christian Church worships on Jesus’ resurrection day, Sunday.
Jesus said, “Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man, so I’m not sure it really matters. Mark 2:27
This is interesting: Scripture never mentions any Sabbath (Saturday) gatherings by believers for fellowship or worship. However, there are clear passages that mention the first day of the week, Sunday. For instance, Acts 20:7 states that “on the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” Paul also urges the Corinthian believers, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2)https://www.gotquestions.org/worship-on-Sunday.html
Hello Sharon, thanks for sharing. This issue you brought up has really rocked me and my family to the core. We used to go to church on Sunday’s until my husband got into some group. The scriptures used to support going to church on Saturday-sabbath are Exodus 20, where the Lord told the Israelites to remember to sabbath and keep it holy. And also Leveticus 23:3, a day of rest and holy assembly. My question is this did Jesus worship on the sabbath? Is it wrong to worship on Sunday?
I’m so torn because now my husband has stopped us from going to church on Sundays. He goes to his group service on Saturday. I’m not sure about going with him yet. We have little kids and I don’t know what to do.
There is nothing in the bible that designates Sunday as the day of worship. Every and any day can be a day of worship. The shabbat is the only day named and declared holy by God. It is for mankind. The first century believers met on the synagogue as usual on Saturday where teaching took place.
Sunday was named after the sun god of the pagan mithraines and declared as the day of worship as a compromise by the Roman church. They wanted nothing Jewish in the new christian religion. That’s around when anti semitism began in the church.
God bless you for asking questions ☺️
Thanks Sharon for your wonderful teaching stories.
The inspiration was given by the Holy spirit. The real truth is the Bible. Thank God for his words.
I like this ..I’m blessed and learned alot through it.Thank you our sister God bless you .
I am a born again Christian and I BELIEVE with ALL my heart and soul that the WHOLE HOKY BIBLE IS TRUE!
Thank you Sharon for your DEVOTIONAL about your mom! She was sooooo brave!!! That story really touched my heart, and I am soooooo glad that your Precious mommie didn’t get hurt over that necklace!!!!
Be BKESSED MY DEAR SISTER! I WANT TO MEET YOU IN HEAVEN INE DAY AND YOUR BESUTIFUL MOMMIE AND DADDY!!!
Dear Sharon,
WHAT AN AWESOME STORY. IT DEFINETLY TOUCHED
MY HEART. I READ ALL THE E- MAILS THAT YOU SEND
AND ENJOY THEM ALL.
BLESS YOU MY DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST,
JOE CHERNY