Read
If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
John 7:17
Reflect
Deciding such matters as which is the best ice cream flavor — chocolate chip, raspberry royale or even plain vanilla — is a question of taste and personal preference. It’s not a question of truth.
Unfortunately, for many people, personal preference becomes the yardstick for truth. It’s not about what actually happened or what God has said, but what we choose to believe. That’s a dangerous way to live, because truth stands outside of personal preference.
Biblical morality is part of God’s truth. Our preferences may affect whether we obey it, but they do not change what is true. Lying, stealing, cheating — or cheating on your spouse — do not become right simply because someone decides they are acceptable.
That gets closer to what Jesus is saying in John 7. He says that the person who is willing to do God’s will can recognize whether His teaching comes from God. In other words, obedience and discernment are connected. If I approach God’s truth asking only whether I like it, I have already put myself in the wrong position to recognize it.
When it comes to morality, the question is not whether God’s commands suit our preferences. The question is whether we are willing to obey what the Lord has said. Sometimes, personal preference can lead us toward choices that deliver us to sin’s door. To walk in God’s truth is to prefer Him over ourselves.
Jesus chose to do the will of the Father, and He asks us to do the same. The way we live as Christians is not determined by what feels right to us, but by whether we are willing to follow what God has said.
So, the next time you have a little ice cream, consider your flavors carefully. There seem to be endless choices, and all of them have their merits. But when it comes to serving the Lord, preference must give way to truth.
Enjoyed this? Subscribe and get future reflections, bourbon notes, and assorted nonsense delivered straight to your inbox.
Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt and Charles Fulton.
