Hearts can only be transformed through truth and grace
Jesus, in the days of His ministry is not distracted by popularity or mass approval, nor is His main purpose to provide food to feed the hungry. He does not use His supernatural powers to decimate His enemies. His ultimate purpose is to transform the hearts of people according to the truth by grace. Only when people’s hearts are transformed by grace to live in the truth, can they experience abundant living.
His brothers encouraged Him to show off His prowess at the feast of the Pentecost, a time where all Jews would gather (John 7:3). They wanted Him to display His power so that He could lead a revolution to free Israel from Roman rule. However, Jesus knew that military would cannot liberate and free the people to live abundantly, which only truth and grace can. The message of truth and righteous living was central to Jesus’ ministry. During the height of the celebrations, Jesus went up to the temple and taught. When the Jews started to vilify Him, He said to them, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.” Hence, we must never stop upholding and speaking the truth at home, work or play. Jesus taught us never to compromise the truth for the sake of being accepted by others.
In John 6:1-14, Jesus feeds 5000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread bringing unprecedented popularity to Himself. Following the miracle, they wanted to make Jesus their king because of what He did. Jesus, seizes the opportunity and teaches about godliness and the bread that came from heaven. Nevertheless, all 5000 left Jesus because He speaks about godliness and refuses to accede to the people’s requests of more bread. In another occasion when Jesus healed a man at Bethesda, He sought him out later on and warned him not to return to sin, lest a worse thing might happen to him.
The lesson here is this: Truth and Grace are the two pillars of abundant living. Truth and Grace are essential to develop successful families, organizations and nations. Without the teachings of truths, grace finds no basis. Where truths must be communicated clearly, with grace people are empowered through the Spirit to grow into that truth.
Are we holding fast to proper business ethics when the reality of the state of the economy strikes? Do we continue to educate the members of our organization to build trust and credibility within the industry?
Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:32”