GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: July 25, 2026

Truth

The human heart set on sin is impervious to reason, never mind appeals to fairness. (Eric Metaxas, radio host and author)

Whatever your definition of sin, Metaxas notes a common reaction when someone is confronted with his errors: defensiveness and resistance. No matter the arguments about right and wrong or the effects on others of one’s poor behavior, the offender seems impervious to criticism or logic. The result of constant misbehavior is the blinding of a sinner to truth.

Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully (Proverbs 28:5).

Stop & Think: July 24, 2026

Truth

Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, famous 19th-century American physician and poet)

That truth just might be a two-edged sword. If an evil idea is introduced into our thinking, we might not be able to disregard it, and it could lead to evil behavior. We’d prefer to look at it more positively. When good ideas are introduced, they provide an impetus to move forward, to expand our thinking, and to pursue worthy goals.

So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things (Ecclesiastes 7:25).

Stop & Think: July 23, 2026

Truth

What goes into a mind comes out in a life. (Source unknown)

If this statement is true, what we put into our minds is critically important to the way we live. It’s even more sobering to realize that what enters the minds of impressionable children during their formative years, when they are eager to learn, will affect their lives permanently. Computer whizzes say, “Garbage in, garbage out.” Let’s make sure it’s “truth in, truth out.”

Set your hearts on things above. . . . Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2).

Stop & Think: July 22, 2026

Truth

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort, you will not get either comfort or truth. (C. S. Lewis, later English academic)

“What is truth?” Mankind has been looking for that answer since the beginning of time. Today, however, it seems that many people, rather than searching for final answers, merely want to find things that will make them feel comfortable. They soon discover that comfort is not lasting, but that finding truth results in finding the God of all comfort.

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

Stop & Think: July 21, 2026

Truth

It’s better for a society to hold strong truths weakly rather than weak truths strongly. (R. R. Reno, theologian and political philosopher)

In a day when many reject the idea of absolute truth, people think almost anything is acceptable if you believe strongly enough. Of course, believing in something that is not real or is false will result in disaster. The real test of truth is discovering its source. A little faith in a genuine truth is better than strong trust in something that is untrue.

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. . . . Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 1:17; John 14:6).

Stop & Think: July 20, 2026

Truth

Human pride refuses to face the truth. (William Wilberforce, 18th-19th century English philanthropist)

Wilberforce was a leader in the anti-slave trade in England. He also promoted a return to civility in the social life of his country. Perhaps it was in those long-lasting and bitter struggles that he discovered the great tragedy of pride. The proud and arrogant often cannot face the truth because it would require them to change their mistaken values.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Stop & Think: July 19, 2026

Truth

It is one thing to show a man that he is in error, and another to put him in possession of truth. (John Locke, 17th-18th century English philosopher)

It’s so easy to criticize—to see others’ errors and, too often, to point them out to anyone who will listen. How much better it would be to carefully direct the erring person to the truth with the purpose of helping him or her learn and grow. A personal, caring touch will not only correct an error, but very likely cement a good relationship, too.

[W]hoever heeds correction shows prudence. . . . The one who heeds correction gains understanding (Proverbs 15:5, 32).

Stop & Think: July 18, 2026

Truth

Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. (Will Rogers, 20th century American humorist)

Everyone wants to think he’s “on the right track.” We may need some spiritual guidance to determine what’s “right.” But once we find the truth, we can’t just sit on it. To be right and do nothing with our “rightness” probably means, as Rogers says, we’ll lose out, and, what’s worse, we’ll never discover where being on the right track can lead.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable . . . think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

Stop & Think: July 17, 2026

Truth

Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted by a lie. (Khaled Hosseini, Afghan novelist)

As someone else has said, “The truth hurts only when it applies.” But still, the truth can hurt. And sometimes we have to face up to the truth that we’ve made a mistake or failed in some way.  As Hosseini suggests, there’s little comfort in a lie, even when it is meant to soothe our feelings. Better, always, to stick with the truth.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted (Proverbs 27:6).

Stop & Think: July 16, 2026

Truth

Education in itself without moral correction does little except to produce clever sinners. (Melvin Tinker, 20th-21st century Anglican clergyman)

Education is extremely important, of course, but as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” To teach facts—even as accurate as they may be—will not produce men and women with integrity. Students must approach their education with a willingness to learn truth and a desire to develop character and integrity.

It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a rebel who has no heart for truth (Proverbs 17:16).

Stop & Think: July 15, 2026

Truth

To be persuasive, we must be believable. To be believable, we must be credible. To be credible, we must be truthful. (Edward R. Murrow, 20th-century broadcast journalist)

Have you ever lost an argument because you couldn’t convince anyone of your position? Was it because your reasoning was poor or your position unbelievable? Or, as Murrow suggests, was it simply that you didn’t have credibility among your peers? If you are known for being truthful and trustworthy, you will do better in convincing others of your point of view.

Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor (Ephesians 4:25).

Stop & Think: July 14, 2026

Truth

Truth without love is brutality. Love without truth is hypocrisy. (Mike Lee, former pastor)

“The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” That’s what we affirm we will say when we testify in court. And the truth sometimes hurts. Maybe we should reserve the truth only for those who have the need and right to hear it. Even then, we must present it in a way that’s helpful and not harmful. We should always speak the truth in love.

Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions (1 John 3:18).