Living the Light of Truth

Understanding Jesus’ teaching isn’t always simple. Part of the challenge is that we live in a different time and culture than the one in which Jesus spoke. That means the meaning may not always be obvious on the surface—we often need to dig a little deeper to discover the truth He intended.

One of the more puzzling passages I’ve wrestled with is found in Luke 11:33–36:

“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness.

“Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” (NLT)

At first glance, it sounds similar to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 about being the light of the world. But here, the emphasis feels different—and a little harder to grasp. Even William Barclay admitted, “The meaning is not easy to grasp.”

So let’s do a little work together.

Setting the Context

To understand these verses, we need to keep them in context. Earlier in Luke 11, people are questioning who Jesus really is. Some accuse Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan. Others demand a miraculous sign to prove His identity—as if His healings and teachings weren’t enough.

In the middle of all this, a woman calls out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!” (v. 27, NLT).

Jesus’ response is key:

“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (v. 28, NLT)

He then warns the crowd that they’ll be judged—not by other Jews, but by outsiders. The queen of Sheba sought out Solomon’s wisdom, while the people of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching. Yet here stood someone greater than Solomon and Jonah, and this crowd wasn’t listening.

The lesson? It’s not enough to have access to God’s truth. The real question is: What will you do with it?

The Call to Be Radiant

Now the lamp-and-eye teaching makes more sense. Truth is meant to be shared, not hidden. But it’s also meant to be received with an open and willing heart.

A “healthy eye” is one that seeks truth and is willing to be taught, like the queen of Sheba. A “healthy eye” also repents when confronted by God’s word, like the people of Nineveh.

On the other hand, an “unhealthy eye” belongs to someone who refuses to be corrected—who insists truth must fit their preconceived ideas, or who looks for loopholes to excuse disobedience. That kind of closed-off heart leaves a person in darkness, no matter how much light is available.

Jesus makes it clear: the blessed life comes not from merely hearing truth, but from obeying it. When we receive God’s truth with open eyes and repentant hearts, His light fills us—transforming us into radiant witnesses of His kingdom.

A Question for Us

We live in a time where information is everywhere. Podcasts, blogs, sermons, and social media feed us content all day long. But none of that makes us radiant on its own. What matters is how we respond to the truth of God’s Word.

So here’s the question worth asking: Is my life being radiant with God’s truth—or am I just collecting information without transformation?

Because in the end, the light of truth is not just something we study. It’s something we live.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Knowing vs. Doing: The Gap We All Face

“We all know what to do (give or take a few details); but we all manage, at least some of the time, not to do it.”

— N. T. Wright, Simply Christian, p. 6

I was flipping through Simply Christian a few days ago when this quote caught my eye. It is the story of my life. I know I should exercise more and get more sleep, but I find excuses not to do it.

Even worse are those moments when I know I should love but don’t, or when I should keep a promise but inconveniently forget. I know what I should do, but I manage not to do it.

Wright nails this common human experience. Everyone has experienced the moment of not living up to their own ideals. The pull of compromise is a reality we all face.

Why is it so hard to do what we know is right?

The Reality We All Recognize

I’m sure you’ve experienced this in your own life. You know you should forgive a coworker who took credit for your work, but it feels better, in the moment, to hold a grudge. You know you should tell your spouse the truth about how much you spent on new gear, but you don’t have the energy to argue. The issue is not a lack of knowledge but a lack of action. The reasons vary, but the result is the same: we are not doing what we should.

All of us have a sense of what we ought to do. This awareness points to an important truth: there is a moral law written on our hearts. In other words, we have a conscience. 

The apostle Paul put it this way: 

“Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.” 

— Romans 2:14-15; NLT

Paul claims that even those who did not have God’s written law had the ability to do what is right. Everyone has a sense of what is right and what is wrong—which means everyone is guilty of not living up to God’s image.

The Tension Between Knowing and Doing

Why do we miss the mark?

There are many reasons, each failure often has its own root cause. For instance, I don’t go to the gym because I don’t want to feel foolish. I eat more than I should because I’m coping with depression. I don’t serve more because I’m fixated on my own life and needs. I know what I should do—but other things get in the way.

Paul confesses to the same sort of problem: 

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 

— Romans 7:15-16; NLT.

There is a war happening between our flesh and our spirit, and too often the flesh wins out. This means that rather than doing what we know we should do, we do the very thing we don’t want to do.

There’s a war between flesh and spirit, and too often the flesh wins. This is not merely moral weakness; it’s the human condition. We were created for union with God, our source of life, but sin severs that connection. Instead of being guided by the Spirit, we are guided by the flesh—which distorts our desires and habits.

Thankfully we bear God’s image, which means there will be times when we do the right thing, but more often than not our flesh wins out and we do what is wrong instead.

This is why Paul writes, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Romans 7:24; NLT).

The Hope of Transformation

Right in the next verse, Paul offers us hope: “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:25, NLT).

In Jesus, the power of sin is broken; we receive forgiveness and new life. Alongside those gifts comes the Holy Spirit, who guides and transforms us. We are no longer left entirely to the sway of the flesh; we can gradually learn to live by the Spirit.

This doesn’t happen in an instant. It is a lifelong process of learning to be guided by the Spirit. Spiritual maturity means we are doing the right thing more and more often—and the reason we are doing the right thing is because the Spirit is guiding our lives.

We don’t have to live as “miserable” people the rest of our lives. Through Jesus, we can slowly but surely be restored as God’s image bearers.

Ponder and Practice

Take time to pause and reflect: What is one thing I know I ought to do—but haven’t?

It is worth taking time to examine our lives and commit to dealing with the sin that still lives within us. That is the only way we can become the people God created us to be.

Knowing what to do is essential. Doing it—by God’s grace—is transforming.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Living in Light, Love, and Truth: Discerning False Prophets

Text: 1 John 4:1-6

Who are you listening to?

That question has never been more urgent. In a world filled with noise, countless voices claim to speak truth—and even to speak for God. But how do we know which ones to trust?

Can You Spot an AI Scam?

Not long ago, a national survey revealed that nearly half of Americans—48 percent—feel less “scam-savvy” than ever before because of artificial intelligence. As AI infiltrates our inboxes, phone calls, and social media feeds, the line between real and fake grows increasingly blurry. Only 18 percent of respondents said they felt confident they could recognize a scam before falling for it. Many admitted that if a scammer mimicked the voice of a loved one or sent a convincing message, they would probably be deceived.

It’s not surprising. Deepfake videos, AI-generated phone calls, and fabricated news posts have become so realistic that even sharp minds can be fooled. No wonder one in three Americans has fallen for some form of scam—and 40 percent within the past year.

One technology executive, commenting on the findings, warned people to remain vigilant as these tools grow more powerful. That word—vigilant—captures the heart of the Apostle John’s message in 1 John 4. Just as we need discernment to spot digital deception, we need spiritual discernment to distinguish between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

Testing the Spirits

John begins bluntly: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1).

Behind every teaching, every “prophetic” word, every cultural message lies a spiritual influence. Some are of God. Others are not. From the beginning, God’s people have been called to test those who claim to speak for Him (see Deuteronomy 13 and 18). The question has always been: Does this message lead me closer to God—or away from Him?

That remains our test today. Not every book labeled “Christian,” not every podcast quoting Scripture, and not every preacher online speaks from the Spirit of truth. As believers, we must be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11—examining everything by the Word of God. And we must do this together, humbly allowing others to correct us and helping them do the same. The stakes are too high to do otherwise.

The First Test: What Do They Say About Jesus?

John gives us a clear standard: “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” (1 John 4:2).

The false teachers John confronted didn’t outright deny Christ—they distorted Him. They denied that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. They reduced Him to a spiritual messenger rather than the incarnate Word of God who died for our sins and rose again.

The same danger persists today. Whenever a message minimizes Jesus’s divinity, questions His humanity, or undermines His authority, it’s not from God. These are, as John says, the spirit of antichrist—forces already active in our world.

That’s why we must know the real Jesus, not a cultural caricature of Him. When we’re clear about who He is—the Son of God, our Savior, Lord, and King—we can more easily recognize counterfeit versions.

The Second Test: What Do They Value?

John continues, “They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world.” (1 John 4:5).

False prophets often sound appealing because their message aligns with worldly desires—success, wealth, influence, and fear. The Spirit of truth, however, leads us toward humility, mercy, forgiveness, courage, and love.

If a message promotes self over sacrifice, power over service, or fear over faith, it does not come from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God always points us back to Jesus and His Kingdom.

And that’s the good news: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4). We do not face deception alone. The Holy Spirit within us gives victory, confidence, and clarity.

Living in Light, Love, and Truth

So what does this look like in daily life?

• Living in Light means exposing every claim and teaching to the truth of God’s Word.
• Living in Love means correcting others gently, aiming for restoration rather than condemnation.
• Living in Truth means remaining loyal to the real Jesus, even when false versions seem easier to follow.

To shine the light of Christ in a dark world, we must stay vigilant—anchored in Scripture, guided by the Spirit, and committed to one another in love.

A Challenge for the Week

This week, take time to write down what you believe about Jesus, the Gospel, and your faith. When you are clear about what is true, you’ll recognize what doesn’t fit.

We live in a world filled with spiritual noise. The question isn’t whether we’ll hear voices—it’s which voice we’ll follow. May our ears be trained by the Spirit to recognize the voice of our Shepherd, so that we can walk in light, live in love, and remain rooted in truth.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Allegiance to King Jesus

What does it mean to pledge allegiance—not to a nation, not to a flag, not to an ideology—but to King Jesus?

That’s not just a rhetorical question. It’s the central question every disciple must answer.

In the United States, allegiance often brings to mind patriotism and national pride. From childhood, we’re taught that loyalty to our country is a moral virtue. Many Christians assume that faith and patriotism naturally go together.

But the call to faith in the New Testament was never just about private belief. It was a public declaration of loyalty to a person—Jesus, the crucified and risen King.

When we see faith as allegiance, we gain a clearer sense of what it means to follow Him.

Allegiance Reordered

To pledge allegiance to Jesus means our ultimate loyalty belongs to Him alone.

It’s not about the words we say but about how we live. Allegiance to King Jesus reorders our priorities and reshapes our identity.

• It means trusting Jesus over political leaders, parties, or ideologies. 
• It means obeying His teachings, even when they clash with the values of the world around us. 
• It means living as citizens of heaven before citizens of any earthly nation. 
• It means choosing love, service, and sacrifice over power, control, and fear. 

True allegiance is both deeply personal and profoundly public. It’s declaring with our lives: Jesus is Lord—and there are no rivals.

A Different Kind of Power

Allegiance to King Jesus looks radically different from allegiance to worldly powers. Governments and empires rule through coercion, force, and law. But King Jesus reigns through love, sacrifice, and the Spirit’s transforming power.

In Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Matthew Bates argues that the Greek word for faith (pistis) is best understood as allegiance—loyalty to Jesus as King.

If that’s true, then we must ask: what kind of King is He?

Jesus is not a tyrant but a servant. In Mark 10:42–45, He told His disciples that earthly rulers “lord it over” their people, but He said, “Not so with you.” Greatness in His Kingdom is found in service. Even the King Himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Christian Anarchism embraces this Kingdom alternative. It rejects coercion and domination and instead chooses the power of the cross—where love and sacrifice define what true strength looks like.

A Kingdom of Unity

Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28:

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

In King Jesus, the dividing walls that society builds—ethnic, social, political, or gender-based—are torn down. Allegiance to Jesus unites us in ways no nation or ideology ever could.

The world thrives on division: us vs. them, powerful vs. powerless, winners vs. losers. But in God’s Kingdom, there are no second-class citizens—only brothers and sisters, equal at the foot of the cross.

That’s why Christian Anarchism insists that no state, class, or political label defines who we are. Only Jesus does.

Our identity isn’t “American Christian,” “conservative Christian,” or “progressive Christian.” It’s simply Christian—citizens of heaven and members of God’s holy people.

Allegiance Lived Out

Allegiance to Jesus isn’t abstract—it’s lived.

Jesus said that all obedience rests on love: love for God and love for neighbor (Matthew 22:37–40). Allegiance to Him means living out that sacrificial love in tangible ways.

• Choosing service over status. 
• Building communities of belonging. 
• Rejecting violence and coercion as tools for change. 
• Living out justice, mercy, and humility—even when it costs us. 

To live this way is not to withdraw from the world but to bear witness to another kind of Kingdom—the one already breaking into our world through Jesus.

The True Allegiance

When Paul wrote Galatians 3:28, he wasn’t crafting a slogan. He was announcing a new reality. In King Jesus, the old hierarchies and divisions are finished.

That’s the heart of Christian Anarchism: not rebellion or chaos, but radical allegiance to the one true King.

It’s living so that our families, churches, and communities reflect the justice, peace, and love of God’s eternal Kingdom.

So the question remains: whose kingdom are you pledging allegiance to?

The nation’s? The world’s? Or King Jesus’?

Because only one allegiance leads to life, justice, and true freedom.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Live as Free People: The Connection of Virtue and Freedom

You and I have certain rights simply because we are human.

From a Christian perspective, we believe these rights are not granted by governments but given by God. They are woven into our very existence, declaring that all people share equal worth before their Creator.

Of course, we’re not equal in every way. We differ in talent, intelligence, beauty, strength, wealth, and opportunity. But we are equal in dignity—and in our shared right to life, responsibility, and moral agency. This equality should be reflected in how people are treated under the law. No matter who you are, equal protection should be extended to all.

We are free people. Yet freedom doesn’t mean doing whatever we want. To protect and preserve the liberty God has given us, we must live in a certain way.

Samuel Adams once said:

“He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue… The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.”

Adams understood something we often forget: freedom and virtue are inseparable.

N.T. Wright, in the book After You Believe, describes virtue as the steady formation of character through the Spirit’s work—developing habits of goodness so that doing what is right becomes second nature. Freedom can only endure when it is shaped by this kind of moral character. Laws and systems may preserve order, but only virtue keeps liberty alive.

Too often, conversations about freedom focus only on what we are allowed to do.

We ask, “Is this legal?” or declare, “It’s my life—I can do what I want!”

But freedom is not simply the ability to make choices; it’s the responsibility to make the right ones. The enjoyment of freedom is not the same as its preservation.

In fact, the number one reason people lose their liberty—personally and collectively—is because of poor choices. Yes, freedom gives us the right to choose, but not all choices lead to life.

Take addiction, for example.

A person is free to use drugs or abuse alcohol. God has given them free will. But addiction quickly becomes a self-made prison, robbing people of the very freedom they wanted to exercise.

The apostle Peter wrote:

“Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.”

—1 Peter 2:16 (CSB)

That sounds strange, doesn’t it? How can freedom be found in being a slave to God?

Yet this is the paradox of the gospel: True freedom is not found in self-rule but in surrender to God’s good and loving authority. When we live as servants of God, we live according to His design—and that is where genuine freedom flourishes.

Even if a government strips away our civil liberties, no one can take away the freedom we have in Christ. Our freedom doesn’t come from the Constitution or the Bill of Rights—it comes from God.

This is why followers of Jesus can remain free even under oppression. True freedom, the freedom described in Scripture, is not the absence of external constraint; it’s the presence of internal obedience.

As Paul wrote,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

—Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

God, in His wisdom and mercy, has placed the direction of our lives in our hands. The choices we make determine whether we live enslaved to sin or free in King Jesus.

So choose well.
Choose virtue.
Choose obedience.
Choose Jesus.

Because when we live as God intended, we discover what freedom truly means.





Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.