Knowing the Truth and What To Do With It

 As I continue the study in Luke 8, Jesus continues His teaching after the parable of the Sower and the seeds. Read the previous blog entry for that lesson if you like. Moving forward, Jesus teaches some really awesome truths in the next three verses:

Luke 8:16-18 NIV

[16]  “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

Jesus taught in parables. According to commentary sources, here He was saying that when His disciples learned the truth of those parables and understood them, then they were to share these truths with other people. 

Jesus also said:

John 8:31-32 NIV

[31] To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Today, as we learn the truth in God's Word and understand it, we should share it with others too, so that they can know the truth and understand it too. Then they too will know the truth and the truth will set them free. Don't hide it or keep it to yourself, but share it so that all can benefit from it.

Next, Jesus said:

[17] For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 

This means that the truth will not remain hidden. It will come out. So the more you read and study God's Word, the more you will learn and understand the truth. It WILL be revealed to you by the Holy Spirit inside you, as "He teaches us all things." It will be "brought out into the open."

And then His last point:

[18] Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” 

Jesus was saying here to be careful how you listen, whether listening to sermons or teachings, or by reading and studying God's word. 

As you learn the truth of God's word and understand it, and apply it to your life, then more truth will be given to you. 

But if you learn the truth of God's word but don't understand it and apply it, then you will not remember it. Even what you learned will be lost or "taken away." We have to continually keep renewing our minds with the truths that we have learned or they won't stick with us.

So, let's use God's word to learn and understand the truth. Then He'll show us even more truth. Then let's apply it to our lives, so we can "be set free" in this life. Then share our learning with others so that they can understand it and apply it to their lives too. Then they can "be set free" too. Then keep renewing our minds everyday with God's Word, so that we will remember and benefit from what we have learned and it won't be lost.

Then others will learn and be saved too, as "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Wow. So much in those three verses!!! Awesome!!!

Love you all,

Jeffrey Post