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Most of the time when we’re traveling, we like to guess what the song is and who sings it, and of course, a little competition ensues.
Growing up, I listened to a variety of music, so for the most part, I dominated. Shaun has the 80s big hair bands in the bag, but everything else is in my wheelhouse.
Except that one time…
The song came on, and I yelled, “Tom Petty!” Shaun laughed and said, “No, afraid not. That’s the Steve Miller Band. Look it up.”
I whipped out my phone, ready to prove him wrong. I knew I was right. I knew the voice. I knew the song. It was Tom Pe…
Steve Miller Band.
It was a moment just like in the movies when reality hits, and the world begins to spin out of control. Everything you thought you knew comes crashing down.
My whole life, I had believed it. But, just because I had believed it for so long didn’t make it true.
In our reading, we are in John 7. Jesus was in Galilee as it was time for the Feast of Tabernacles. He was facing opposition in every direction. The Pharisees were plotting to kill Him; the Jews thought He was possessed by a demon, and His own brothers didn’t believe He was the Christ.
John 7:25-27
“Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.”
The Jews were trying to decide who Jesus was. They had surmised that because they knew where Jesus came from, He couldn’t be the Messiah. They believed that the Messiah would just appear and not have a birthplace.
But it didn’t make it true just because they believed it for so long.
The scriptures were clear in Micah 5:2.
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Do you want it said more plainly? “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” – NIV.
Even more plainly? The Messiah will come from Bethlehem.
I was talking with a woman one day, and we disagreed on something. She said, “Well, that’s what I’ve been taught and believed my whole life.”
But friends, it doesn’t make it true.
If you want to know the truth about what you believe, test it against scripture. Study it out, and then if what you’ve been taught your whole life aligns with the Word of God, great! But, if not… don’t try to line the Word of God up to your “truth.” Truth doesn’t work like that.
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