Being Different: Think Differently Part 1 Series

TRUE

When Jesus was before Pilate, Pilate irritatingly asked Jesus, “So, are you a king or not?” Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.” Pilate said, “What is truth?”

Pilate asks quite the question here, doesn’t he? “What is truth?” It sounds like the exasperated cry of someone who is at his wit’s end and doesn’t know which way to turn. We have all been there, looking around for an answer when answers seem so hard to find, not know where to turn.

In this instance, truth means anything pertaining to what is true and real, not imaginary. So where do we seek to find the truth? Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” That is quite a bold statement! What a claim! How can anyone dare to make such a proclamation about themselves being “the truth?”

Jesus goes on to explain to us that, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going” (John 8:14). Jesus said that He knows where He came from. Another time, He said that “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Since Jesus came from Father God, then that means that He shares in the attributes of God. And we know that God is eternally true. God proves Himself trustworthy and true again and again.

And since God is true and real, that means that Jesus is true and real.

HONEST

Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

Those who have integrity and live what they believe walk without fear of some evil being discovered. Jesus certainly set the mold for honesty, integrity, nobility, and whatever is worthy of respect during His time on earth.

When He taught in the temple at the age of 12, He taught with such an authority that He commanded the respect of those listening. In all His teachings and dealings with others, He was an honest man. He walked in integrity, following the straight and narrow path, and never sought the quick and easy way out. Jesus was certainly a model for honesty and integrity during His open ministry.

JUST

Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.”

In this verse, just can be further described as righteous, upright, and justified.

Jesus Christ is just. It is one of His attributes, or His character. On the flip side, it is impossible for Him to be unjust. He is the definition of justice. Jesus spoke about our responsibility to bring justice by loving our neighbors and doing good for those around us, especially the poor and marginalized. According to Jesus, we do the work of bringing justice through our love and kindness.

When the religious leaders of his day asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment, he answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:36-39). He told the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate what it meant to love our neighbor: on a personal level, sacrificially if necessary, act for the good of others. That is rendering justice.

CLOSING

As we strive to be different by thinking differently, we discover that our thinking should revolve around Christ. Jesus was true, honest, and just. As we strive to be true, honest, and just ourselves, we will discover that our ultimate example is Jesus, and that we should be thinking about Him in regards to our living.