# Seeking God, Finding God: Living Your Truth in Lent
*2009-04-02*

> Bill Young reflects on the challenge of embodying our faith so authentically that others are compelled by our witness, drawing on Scripture and a meditation for the fifth week of Lent.

## Scripture and the Call to Truth

We begin with the words of Jeremiah 20:13 and John 10:31‑42: “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?” These verses remind us that Jesus’ life and works were so consistent with the Father’s truth that the religious leaders could not deny Him, yet they still sought to stone Him.

## Encountering Conviction in Others

Thomas Moore, the psychologist, writes that when we allow ourselves to exist truly and fully, we “sing the world with our vision and challenge it with our own way of being.” Have you ever met someone whose passion for a belief—whether you share it or not—was so genuine that you thought, “I may not agree, but they certainly believe what they say”? Or someone who “puts their money where their mouth is,” living out a cause with total commitment. Such people “sting the world with their truth,” and while we may not agree with them, their authenticity cannot be ignored.

## Jesus as the Model of Authentic Faith

No one lived as fully or as truly as Jesus. His life was a seamless harmony of word and deed, making it impossible for his listeners to dismiss him. Their frustration grew to the point of wanting to stone Him, precisely because His truth was so undeniable.

## A Lent Practice: Living One Truth Fully

Mahatma Gandhi is often quoted as saying that if he ever found a true Christian, he would feel compelled to become one. The challenge for us is to live our faith so completely that those around us either feel drawn to it or are forced to confront it. Choose one truth today—a belief you hold deeply—and commit to living it fully throughout the day.

## Prayer for Courage

God of truth, strengthen my beliefs. Give me the courage to live what I believe.

*When we embody our faith with unwavering honesty, we become a living testimony that invites others to encounter God.*