In what ways can we discern truth to align with 1 Corinthians 13:6? Setting the Foundation: The Verse in Focus “Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.” — 1 Corinthians 13:6 Why Truth Matters to Love • Love and truth are inseparable; when truth is missing, “love” drifts into sentimentality. • Psalm 19:9: “The judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.” • John 17:17: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” • Love delights when what God says is upheld and displayed. Anchoring Our Discernment in God’s Word • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Scripture is “God-breathed and profitable” for every aspect of discernment. • Psalm 119:160 — “The entirety of Your word is truth.” • Acts 17:11 — The Bereans “examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” • Any claim, feeling, or cultural pressure must bow to the clear, literal teaching of Scripture. Practical Steps for Testing Truth 1. Compare every message with the explicit words of Scripture. 2. Observe the context; a verse never contradicts the passage or the whole Bible. 3. Look for the character of Christ: does the teaching mirror Jesus’ holiness and love? 4. Check the fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). Truth produces righteousness, not compromise. 5. Seek counsel from mature believers who are grounded in the Word (Proverbs 15:22). 6. Pray for illumination by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). 7. Refuse anything that diminishes the sufficiency of Scripture (Galatians 1:8-9). Guardrails Against Deception • 1 John 4:1 — “Test the spirits.” Not every inspiring thought is from God. • Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust the LORD, not personal intuition alone. • Colossians 2:8 — Beware philosophy “based on human tradition.” • Ephesians 4:14 — Do not be “tossed by the waves and carried about by every wind of teaching.” • Guard the mind: Philippians 4:8 lists the mental diet that keeps discernment sharp. Living Out Truth With Love • Ephesians 4:15 — “Speaking the truth in love” means our tone matches our content. • James 1:22 — Act on what is true; application cements discernment. • Encourage others gently when they stray, restoring them “in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). • Celebrate righteousness publicly; do not laugh at or promote evil entertainment. • Build habits of confession and repentance, keeping the heart tender to truth. • Share the gospel faithfully; the ultimate rejoicing in truth is seeing souls saved (Luke 15:10). |
    |