Understanding the truth means recognizing that our lives are not just about us—they are about God’s purpose for us. He uses us to bring light to others, proving His love and faithfulness through our words, actions, and relationships.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock.
[00:00:42] The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,
[00:00:49] rightly dividing the word of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.
[00:00:55] You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast.
[00:00:59] And now here's Elgin.
[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
[00:01:08] to another episode of Words of Inspiration.
[00:01:12] And today we conclude our series, Children of the Light, with an episode titled, Understanding the Truth.
[00:01:24] Over the past episodes, we've explored what it means to walk as children of the light,
[00:01:30] bringing God's love, truth, and purpose into every area of our lives.
[00:01:37] So today, we'll focus on speaking honestly about our expectations, God's purpose, and what it truly means to live an abundant life.
[00:01:50] Let's begin with the foundation of truth.
[00:01:53] To have the lives we desire, we must desire to bring value to others more.
[00:02:00] Living as children of the light isn't about personal gain.
[00:02:03] It's about letting God use us as instruments of his love and purpose.
[00:02:09] When we understand this, we align ourselves with his plan,
[00:02:13] allowing him to lead us into the fullness of the life he's promised.
[00:02:20] The abundant life God desires for us is directly connected to how we impact those around us.
[00:02:27] When we shift our focus from what we can get to what we can give,
[00:02:33] we begin to experience the fullness of God's blessings.
[00:02:37] Philippians 2 verses 3 through 4, reading from the New International Version reminds us,
[00:02:45] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
[00:02:50] Rather, in humility, value others above yourself,
[00:02:55] not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interest of others.
[00:03:01] God is pleased when we bring value to others.
[00:03:05] A simple word of encouragement can change someone's day and sometimes their life.
[00:03:13] Proverbs 16 and 24 reads,
[00:03:17] Gracious words are a honeycomb sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
[00:03:24] Being present and empathetic helps others see God's love through you.
[00:03:30] Romans 12 and 15 reads,
[00:03:33] Rejoice with those who rejoice.
[00:03:36] Mourn with those who mourn.
[00:03:39] Offering our time to help, mentor or simply listen demonstrates Christ-like selflessness.
[00:03:47] Galatians 6 verse 2 reads,
[00:03:50] Carry each other's burden and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
[00:03:57] When we prioritize adding value to others, we align with God's purpose and create meaningful relationships that reflect his kingdom.
[00:04:08] God could easily speak directly to those in need for encouragement or guidance, but he chooses to use us as his witnesses.
[00:04:18] Why?
[00:04:20] Because it benefits both us and those we serve.
[00:04:25] Being used by God requires us to grow in faith, understanding and character.
[00:04:31] It teaches us how to build relationships that matter and rely on God's guidance.
[00:04:37] For them, recipients of our kindness and support experience God's love in a tangible way.
[00:04:47] Through us, they see that God hears their prayers and cares for their needs.
[00:04:54] Matthew 5 and 16 captures this beautifully.
[00:04:58] Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
[00:05:07] As we allow God to use us, we become living testimonies of his love and faithfulness, inspiring others to seek him.
[00:05:17] To live this way, we must resist the pull of our flesh and the distractions of the world.
[00:05:23] It's easy to get caught up in chasing personal ambition or listening to voices that lead us away from God's plan.
[00:05:31] But true freedom and fulfillment come from surrendering to his leadership.
[00:05:38] Proverbs 3 verses 5 through 6 read,
[00:05:53] God knows where he's taking us.
[00:05:55] Our role is to trust him and stay the course, even when it's difficult or unclear.
[00:06:04] Believing that God's plan is better than anything we could design for ourselves.
[00:06:10] Helps us to stay the course and understand what his expectations are.
[00:06:16] Jeremiah 29 and 11 reads,
[00:06:19] For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
[00:06:23] Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
[00:06:26] Plans to give you hope and a future.
[00:06:30] Following God's word and promptings, even when they are challenging, should be our comfort zone.
[00:06:37] James 1 verse 22 reads,
[00:06:40] Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.
[00:06:44] Do what it says.
[00:06:46] Standing firm in faith when the world attempts to pull us astray shows the level of dedication and resilience that God requires.
[00:06:57] Ephesians 6 and 13 reads,
[00:06:59] Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when a day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.
[00:07:09] When we align our expectations with God's purpose, we experience the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10.10.
[00:07:17] This abundance isn't about material wealth or worldly success.
[00:07:21] It's about peace, joy, love and purpose.
[00:07:27] It's about living in a way that reflects God's character and fulfills his mission.
[00:07:33] As we bring value to others, let God use us as witnesses and trust his guidance.
[00:07:40] We step into the fullness of life he's prepared for us.
[00:07:43] As we close this series, remember this.
[00:07:49] Understanding the truth means recognizing that our lives are not just about us.
[00:07:55] They are about God's purpose for us.
[00:07:57] He uses us to bring light to others, proving his love and faithfulness through our words, actions and relationships.
[00:08:07] When we let God lead and resist the distractions of the world, we discover the abundant life he promises.
[00:08:14] So as children of the light, commit to living with intention, adding value to others and trusting God to guide your every step.
[00:08:26] I thank you for joining me for this final episode of Children of the Light.
[00:08:31] And I pray this series has encouraged you to walk boldly in your identity as a child of light and to live out God's purpose with faith and joy.
[00:08:41] If this message has blessed you, share it with someone who needs encouragement today.
[00:08:47] And as you go through your weekend, remember the truth sets us free and God's light leads us to a life we were created for.
[00:08:59] The truth sets us free and God's light leads us to the life we were created for.
[00:09:06] So stay faithful, stay inspired and keep shining brightly.
[00:09:13] I thank you for spending time with me on today.
[00:09:16] I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to our conversation on Sunday.
[00:09:23] Until then, God bless.
[00:09:31] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth.
[00:09:41] If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone.
[00:09:48] You can find The Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and many more.
[00:09:57] Follow us on YouTube at The Bible Speaks Online.
[00:10:01] You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582 Ocala, Florida 34478 or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com.
[00:10:20] To be continued...