by Dr. Al Hearne II

 

I am excited to introduce the theme: God's Truth for this series of devotions. We live in a world where somebody can literally make up the truth despite evidence to the contrary.  The world says that if a person thinks and believes it, it is not only truth, but everyone else must accept it as truth, even when it is known to be false.  It is more important than ever to anchor ourselves to God's truth in the Bible.  Just as a reliable compass points true north, all truth is from God; anything else is a misdirection caused by human error.  

God’s Truth is our compass as we embark on a devotional study voyage.  As we set sail examining our theme, we will navigate through 12 ports of call, with 4 or 5 shore excursions each to understand how daily living in God’s truth leads to eternal life based upon Jesus’ bold declaration in John 14:6,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 52 foundational Bible passages to help us understand God's truth as seen in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, based upon John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” This means more than just knowing God's truth; it means understanding God's truth for all people of all time.  It means believing that salvation is by faith alone based upon a personal belief that Jesus is the one and only son of God.  It means living out God's truth as we navigate our daily actions, decisions, and relationships. 

We will celebrate the ultimate truth—Jesus Christ—His birth, life, death, and resurrection as the guiding star of our Christian lives.  We will study accepting God's truth by recognizing the authority of Scripture. We will explore how the Bible shapes our faith, conduct, and worldview, providing a reliable anchor for everything we believe.  Trusting in God's faithfulness serves as our steady vessel. This trust gives us the confidence to navigate through everything that comes our way. We will chart God's promises, reflecting on His faithfulness throughout generations and our personal lives.

Our voyage will also involve seeking God's truth and wisdom. We will be encouraged to ask questions, seek understanding, and rely on God's wisdom as our guiding star throughout our voyage. We will focus on embracing God's truth, prioritizing wisdom and insight, and placing our anchor in God's truth no matter the cost.

We will examine speaking the truth in love, emphasizing the importance of open, honest, and transparent communication. We will challenge ourselves to live out the Bible's teachings, sharing God's truth as a beacon of light in a world of darkness.  We will navigate our daily lives by speaking truthfully and making wise decisions that reflect God's truth.  We will celebrate the trustworthy nature of God's truth, reflecting on what we have learned and how we have been transformed during our voyage. I am excited about the year ahead and our study voyage of God's truth together. Each week in the Eagle Update, a devotion will be published focusing on the month's theme and a new passage emphasizing God's truth.  I encourage you to incorporate these weekly devotions into your family time, setting sail together under the guiding star of God's commandment in Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

 

August Port of Call: Accepting and Living God’s Truth Leads to Eternal Life

●      Shore Excursion 1.  John 14:6, Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

●      Shore Excursion 2.  3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

●      Shore Excursion 3.   Psalm 25:5, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

●      Shore Excursion 4.  John 17:17, Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

 

September Port of Call: Understanding and Starting with the Foundation of Scripture

●      Shore Excursion 5.  2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

●      Shore Excursion 6. Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

●      Shore Excursion 7.  Psalm 119:160, All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal."

●      Shore Excursion 8.  Matthew 4:4, "Jesus answered, 'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

 

October Port of Call: Trust God’s Faithfulness

●      Shore Excursion 9.  Psalm 119:90, Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures."

●      Shore Excursion 10.  Psalm 89:1, "I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations."

●      Shore Excursion 11.  Psalm 117:2, For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD."

●      Shore Excursion 12.  Psalm 37:5, "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this."

●      Shore Excursion 13. Deuteronomy 7:9, "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

 

November Port of Call: Seek God’s Truth for Understanding

●      Shore Excursion 14.  James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

●      Shore Excursion 15.  Psalm 25:4-5, "Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

●      Shore Excursion 16.  Psalm 86:11, Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

●      Shore Excursion 17.  Psalm 119:45, "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts."

 

December Port of Call: The Truth of Christ

●      Shore Excursion 18.  Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

●      Shore Excursion 19.  Luke 2:11, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

●      Shore Excursion 20.  John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

●      Shore Excursion 21.  Galatians 4:4-5, "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

 

January Port of Call: Embrace God’s Truth

●      Shore Excursion 22.  Proverbs 23:23, "Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well."

●      Shore Excursion 23.  Proverbs 8:7, My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness."

●      Shore Excursion 24. Proverbs 12:22, The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."

●      Shore Excursion 25.  Proverbs 12:17, "An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies."

●      Shore Excursion 26.  Psalm 119:160, "All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal."

 

February Port of Call: Speak God’s Truth in Love

●      Shore Excursion 27.  Ephesians 4:15, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."

●      Shore Excursion 28.  Proverbs 12:19, Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."

●      Shore Excursion 29.  Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

●      Shore Excursion 30.  Proverbs 15:4, "The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit."

 

March Port of Call: Demonstrate God's Truth Trough Actions

●      Shore Excursion 31.  James 1:22, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

●      Shore Excursion 32.  Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

●      Shore Excursion 33.  1 John 3:18, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

●      Shore Excursion 34.  James 2:18, "But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

 

April Port of Call: Share God’s Truth With Others

●      Shore Excursion 35.  Zechariah 8:16, "These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts."

●      Shore Excursion 36.  Ephesians 4:25, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

●      Shore Excursion 37.  1 Thessalonians 2:8, "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."

●      Shore Excursion 38.  1 Corinthians 13:6, Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

●      Shore Excursion 39.  1 Peter 1:22, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart."

 

May Port of Call: Follow Christ’s Example and Teachings

●      Shore Excursion 40.  Matthew 16:24, Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

●      Shore Excursion 41.  1 Peter 2:21, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

●      Shore Excursion 42.  Matthew 4:19, "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

●      Shore Excursion 43.  Ephesians 5:1-2, "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

 

June Port of Call: Rejoicing in the Truth of God’s Word

●      Shore Excursion 44.  Psalm 19:7, "The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple."

●      Shore Excursion 45.  Psalm 100:1-2, "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."

●      Shore Excursion 46.  Jeremiah 9:24, But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD."

●      Shore Excursion 47.  Psalm 33:4, For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does."

 

July Port of Call: Reflecting God’s Truth Through Personal Transformation

●      Shore Excursion 48.   2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

●      Shore Excursion 49.   Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

●      Shore Excursion 50.  1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

●      Shore Excursion 51.  J John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

●      Shore Excursion 52.  John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

 

I am excited about the voyage to study God's truth together.  Let us support one another during the voyage, continually seeking, embracing, and living out the truth that sets us free.