I came home from our church's Leadership Team meeting last night with questions running through my mind -
How do we fire up the enthusiasm of our volunteers? Where can we find another $120,000 for that project that needs attention? How do we stay relevant and effective in God's work here?
What must we do to help the newer people in our congregation to feel 'connected?'
Are the needs of the elderly members being addressed?
There was more than a small amount of fear fighting for traction. I could hear the whispers of doubt at the doorway of my mind telling me that "You're just not up to this challenge. You need to let somebody with a better set of skills take over." Am I the first person who is pressed by his responsibilities? Of course not. Anyone who attempts much of anything in this world - from a Little League coach to the President of the USA- will come up against barriers that look formidable!
In my Scripture reading I was in the book of Zechariah, not exactly one of my favorite texts. But the Lord brought this passage to memory in the middle of my musings and prayers last night: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’" Then the word of the LORD came to me: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. " (Zechariah 4:6-10, NIV)
Zerubbabel was one of the men who returned to Jerusalem some 70 years after the Babylonians had destroyed the city. His mission was to rebuild the Temple for worship. The obstacles he faced were multiple - the difficulty of clearing the rubble, the threats from the nations that surrounded Jerusalem, and the despair that fell on his work force when the job dragged on and on. Zerubbabel was trying to do something BIG, with limited resources. God sent him a word to encourage his efforts, reminding him that his greatest resource was the Spirit of God and that when he finished the task, everyone would realize that it was God, not Zerubbabel who made it happen.
Every Believer is a temple builder. We are not building a physical place of worship, a church. We are building a life to honor God, where His majestic Presence dwells. To be holy and to live a life worthy of Him- now that is one huge challenge, . Given that we are flawed by a sinful nature, the idea of being God's temple seems ridiculous - except that it is "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit." In Ephesians God's promise to empower us is clear. Paul writes, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT)
Are problems multiplying around you like rabbits in the springtime? Are there more questions than answers in your life today?
Take the Word to heart. Look up with faith. Don't ask for release or reassignment. Instead, ask for more faith to stay steady, for greater wisdom to see the solutions, and for release of Divine resources so that anyone who sees your victory will say, "Look what God has done!" And, in that, you will have accomplished the calling we each share - to glorify the God who saved us.
"We felt sure that we were going to die. But this made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life. God saved us from the threat of death, and we are sure that he will do it again and again." (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, CEV) Amen.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
A word to the wise
When my grandsons come to visit, they love to play in our back yard, which is sizeable. They can run and dig and explore - but we keep our eyes on them because they are boys in need of boundaries. Soon after going out to play in our yard, they are eyeing the neighbor's yard, which becomes more and more inviting as the moments pass! It's not just little boys in the backyard who need guidance. Our hearts need boundaries, too. The hymn, Come, Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing says: "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, oh take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above." An old proverb points out that 'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.' That's why we need good fences!
Don't confuse knowledge of the boundaries with wisdom to remain within them. Gavin and Payton know they should stay in my yard, but they need the wisdom of an adult to keep them there! Plenty of people who have wandered from the right way into sins of every description know full well what they are doing is wrong, but they do it anyway. The Proverbs reminds to "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track " (Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message) Trust God... He will keep you on track! It is a foolish person who thinks he will never wander off the right path because "he's too smart or too good."
The road of life is strewn with wreckage from lives of educated, intelligent, and moral persons who thought they were above making some 'stupid' choice. So how do you and I avoid the same fate? The Word reminds us- "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (Proverbs 4:23, NLT) That principle is stated in various ways throughout the Bible. What we do flows up out of who we are. The way to stay within the boundaries of a life that invites God's blessings, is not with handcuffs, but with heart change. It is critically important that you and I give the Spirit of God total access to our inner person on a daily basis. A time of quiet meditation and prayer, for even just a few moments each morning, allows Him to speak to us, to guide us, to redirect our heart's intents. Then, too, we need to feed our heart with the wisdom of the Scripture. "But, Jerry, I've already learned so much of it." You know, so have I, but we 'forget' like a kid forgets his parent's instruction. That's why we must go back again and again to reinforce the Truth. And, we must stay in regular communication with other Believers who are true friends, who love us enough to speak truthfully to us with affirmation and correction.
It is so much easier to curb an impulse of the heart than to correct a course of action!
So, are you tempted by the greener grass next door? Guard your heart!
Ask God to help you to stay within His boundaries.
Remember this -"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, The Message)
______________________
Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.
Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender,
LordIn me abide.
Cleanse Me - Edwin J. Orr
© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Don't confuse knowledge of the boundaries with wisdom to remain within them. Gavin and Payton know they should stay in my yard, but they need the wisdom of an adult to keep them there! Plenty of people who have wandered from the right way into sins of every description know full well what they are doing is wrong, but they do it anyway. The Proverbs reminds to "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track " (Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message) Trust God... He will keep you on track! It is a foolish person who thinks he will never wander off the right path because "he's too smart or too good."
The road of life is strewn with wreckage from lives of educated, intelligent, and moral persons who thought they were above making some 'stupid' choice. So how do you and I avoid the same fate? The Word reminds us- "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (Proverbs 4:23, NLT) That principle is stated in various ways throughout the Bible. What we do flows up out of who we are. The way to stay within the boundaries of a life that invites God's blessings, is not with handcuffs, but with heart change. It is critically important that you and I give the Spirit of God total access to our inner person on a daily basis. A time of quiet meditation and prayer, for even just a few moments each morning, allows Him to speak to us, to guide us, to redirect our heart's intents. Then, too, we need to feed our heart with the wisdom of the Scripture. "But, Jerry, I've already learned so much of it." You know, so have I, but we 'forget' like a kid forgets his parent's instruction. That's why we must go back again and again to reinforce the Truth. And, we must stay in regular communication with other Believers who are true friends, who love us enough to speak truthfully to us with affirmation and correction.
It is so much easier to curb an impulse of the heart than to correct a course of action!
So, are you tempted by the greener grass next door? Guard your heart!
Ask God to help you to stay within His boundaries.
Remember this -"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, The Message)
______________________
Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.
Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender,
LordIn me abide.
Cleanse Me - Edwin J. Orr
© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Be authentic!
Much has been made in the media this week about Senator Hillary Clinton's speaking appearance in Selma, Alabama last weekend during which she attempted a Southern accent while quoting an old Gospel hymn. Apparently she was making an attempt to 'connect' with her audience, but it was so phony that it plays like a joke wherever it is shown on TV or the Internet. She made a mistake for which I imagine she is mortified on reflection. What makes the clip so comic is the completely forced attempt of a woman born in Illinois and educated in the Ivy League to be a good ole' gal from Alabama. She knows now, or at least she should, that the better road is just to be who she is. Sen. Clinton is not the first politician to trip over image-making that comes off as hollow, nor will she be the last.
Of much more concern to me than a politician's comedic attempt at a regional accent is the temptation - common to every Christian - to pretend to be someone or something we are not spiritually! Our desire to enjoy the approval of other people tempts us to cover our failings with professions of faith unmatched by the true attitude of our heart. Jesus speaks directly to this issue and He condemns it. Take a look.
"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. "When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. "And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?" (Matthew 6:1-5, The Message)
Just as the Senator's well-meaning but fake attempt at fitting in with her audience failed; any attempt you or I make at pretending to be better Christians than we really are will fail. Self-deception may make us the last to realize that we are making a joke out of our Christianity. One of the most frequent criticisms of Believers is hypocrisy, and sadly, it is a criticism that has real merit. Secret sins are often hidden away under religious robes, rhetorical prayers, and hymns sung without engaging our hearts.
One of the reasons that 12 Step recovery groups like AA work so well is that they invite people to 'come clean,' about themselves- to tell the good, the bad, the ugly truth. "Hello, my name is __________, and I'm an alcoholic." That introduction is not an excuse to go get drunk again. It is an admission of weakness that invites encouragement to change and sobriety. My sincere desire is to lead a community of Believers who share that sense of acceptance that leads to authenticity. I sometimes wonder if we should lead off our church services with an introduction like that used in AA, "Hello, I'm Jerry, and I'm a sinner, saved by God's grace alone." The Apostle Paul felt no need to pretend. He wrote of himself, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15, NKJV)
Confessing our innate sinfulness does not create, as some say, an excuse for sin. It opens our lives up to the encouragement of our follow Believers, to self-examination, and to the work of the Spirit! It is a declaration of dependence. Paul reminds us about the folly of thinking more highly of ourselves than we should. "Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence." (1 Corinthians 10:12, The Message)
"Honest to God," is really a great phrase, when we really mean it. He sees us - naked, vulnerable, as we really are - and loves us deeply. So why do we pose and pretend? Don't make a joke of Jesus by adopting a phony religious tone in life. Be real. When you fail, admit it without excuse - to God, to others. When you find a measure of success, celebrate it - for what it is, nothing more, nothing less. If you're afraid, doubting, confused, tempted - find a faithful friend to whom you can unburden your heart and together take your needs to the Lord Jesus, an ever-present Source of help.
When live authentically, we find great freedom, and we become living proof of the goodness and glory of God that shows through our weaknesses. Be authentic, for God's sake, today.
Of much more concern to me than a politician's comedic attempt at a regional accent is the temptation - common to every Christian - to pretend to be someone or something we are not spiritually! Our desire to enjoy the approval of other people tempts us to cover our failings with professions of faith unmatched by the true attitude of our heart. Jesus speaks directly to this issue and He condemns it. Take a look.
"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. "When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. "And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?" (Matthew 6:1-5, The Message)
Just as the Senator's well-meaning but fake attempt at fitting in with her audience failed; any attempt you or I make at pretending to be better Christians than we really are will fail. Self-deception may make us the last to realize that we are making a joke out of our Christianity. One of the most frequent criticisms of Believers is hypocrisy, and sadly, it is a criticism that has real merit. Secret sins are often hidden away under religious robes, rhetorical prayers, and hymns sung without engaging our hearts.
One of the reasons that 12 Step recovery groups like AA work so well is that they invite people to 'come clean,' about themselves- to tell the good, the bad, the ugly truth. "Hello, my name is __________, and I'm an alcoholic." That introduction is not an excuse to go get drunk again. It is an admission of weakness that invites encouragement to change and sobriety. My sincere desire is to lead a community of Believers who share that sense of acceptance that leads to authenticity. I sometimes wonder if we should lead off our church services with an introduction like that used in AA, "Hello, I'm Jerry, and I'm a sinner, saved by God's grace alone." The Apostle Paul felt no need to pretend. He wrote of himself, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15, NKJV)
Confessing our innate sinfulness does not create, as some say, an excuse for sin. It opens our lives up to the encouragement of our follow Believers, to self-examination, and to the work of the Spirit! It is a declaration of dependence. Paul reminds us about the folly of thinking more highly of ourselves than we should. "Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence." (1 Corinthians 10:12, The Message)
"Honest to God," is really a great phrase, when we really mean it. He sees us - naked, vulnerable, as we really are - and loves us deeply. So why do we pose and pretend? Don't make a joke of Jesus by adopting a phony religious tone in life. Be real. When you fail, admit it without excuse - to God, to others. When you find a measure of success, celebrate it - for what it is, nothing more, nothing less. If you're afraid, doubting, confused, tempted - find a faithful friend to whom you can unburden your heart and together take your needs to the Lord Jesus, an ever-present Source of help.
When live authentically, we find great freedom, and we become living proof of the goodness and glory of God that shows through our weaknesses. Be authentic, for God's sake, today.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
The heart of the soul
I enjoy a good conversation, especially when a person is relaxed and ready to talk. It's fascinating to find out what he's about, who he really is. It takes a while to get past the polite 'weather report' talk that all of us adopt in new relationships. But, then the real person starts to emerge. You find out if they are courageous or fearful, generous or stingy, what they like, who they don't like, etc. They more we talk, the more we reveal. Jesus says, "whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart." (Matthew 12:34-35, NLT) I use that truth when I counsel with those who come looking for my help with things like unforgiveness, depression, anger, and recurring sinful habits. We talk and as I ask leading questions, the layers piled on their true feelings and beliefs start to peel away.
Here's a sobering fact. Many of us are clueless about the full content of our heart! Most of the time it is not a willful ignorance. With the passing of time we store away attitudes and ideas and they get buried in our subconscious mind. Despite being out of reach of our conscious memory, these are very much in play, effecting the ways we respond to life, the ways we relate to others. Little phrases we heard as a child, experiences that seem to have no real significance as they happened, have gone into that magnificent thing called our brain and become part of our heart. More than once in a counseling conversation, a person has said something and then paused with a look of astonishment on his face. "I didn't realize that I felt that way!" is his reaction when the light reaches a secret corner of his heart.
If we truly want to live in a way that pleases God and reflects the life of Christ in us, we must undergo a heart transformation. David cried out to God, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." (Psalm 51:9-12, NKJV) Believe me, as tough as it is to be shown the content of our heart, it is liberating to present the treasures and the trash to God and find His healing and forgiveness!
Many Believers find their desire to be Christ-like in behavior sabotaged by a heart that is stuffed with junk, lies, and misconceptions about God, life, and others. They want to be loving, courageous, joyful persons but they only manage to display those traits on their best days, too few and too far between. Unknowingly, the problem is the pollution of their soul that fouls their words and actions. "But," you may be asking, "didn't Christ Jesus forgive their sins and wash them clean when they trusted Him as Savior and Lord?" Yes, but too often they have not forgiven themselves and they have not engaged in the process of heart transformation. Salvation start with Jesus Christ, but it is not a passive experience. It is a vigorous process. We must 'work out our salvation!' We cannot force goodness from the outside in. But we do have to work with the Spirit to bring the life and light of God's renewal into every room in our heart house. If we do not, we will fall into a cycle of sin, sadness, repentance, determination..... then, failure, again! Those who saved, but not made whole and holy, pray, "God, take it away. What is wrong with me?"
A better prayer is another from the Psalms. "Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life." (Psalm 139:23-24, The Message) Lord, show me the stuff in the attic of my mind. Let me clean it out and get free of its influence, so I don't keep falling back into the old ways that have caused me to miss the ways of life so often in the past.
Do you know your heart? It's harder than you think.
Take this word from the Word to heart today.
Here's a sobering fact. Many of us are clueless about the full content of our heart! Most of the time it is not a willful ignorance. With the passing of time we store away attitudes and ideas and they get buried in our subconscious mind. Despite being out of reach of our conscious memory, these are very much in play, effecting the ways we respond to life, the ways we relate to others. Little phrases we heard as a child, experiences that seem to have no real significance as they happened, have gone into that magnificent thing called our brain and become part of our heart. More than once in a counseling conversation, a person has said something and then paused with a look of astonishment on his face. "I didn't realize that I felt that way!" is his reaction when the light reaches a secret corner of his heart.
If we truly want to live in a way that pleases God and reflects the life of Christ in us, we must undergo a heart transformation. David cried out to God, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." (Psalm 51:9-12, NKJV) Believe me, as tough as it is to be shown the content of our heart, it is liberating to present the treasures and the trash to God and find His healing and forgiveness!
Many Believers find their desire to be Christ-like in behavior sabotaged by a heart that is stuffed with junk, lies, and misconceptions about God, life, and others. They want to be loving, courageous, joyful persons but they only manage to display those traits on their best days, too few and too far between. Unknowingly, the problem is the pollution of their soul that fouls their words and actions. "But," you may be asking, "didn't Christ Jesus forgive their sins and wash them clean when they trusted Him as Savior and Lord?" Yes, but too often they have not forgiven themselves and they have not engaged in the process of heart transformation. Salvation start with Jesus Christ, but it is not a passive experience. It is a vigorous process. We must 'work out our salvation!' We cannot force goodness from the outside in. But we do have to work with the Spirit to bring the life and light of God's renewal into every room in our heart house. If we do not, we will fall into a cycle of sin, sadness, repentance, determination..... then, failure, again! Those who saved, but not made whole and holy, pray, "God, take it away. What is wrong with me?"
A better prayer is another from the Psalms. "Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life." (Psalm 139:23-24, The Message) Lord, show me the stuff in the attic of my mind. Let me clean it out and get free of its influence, so I don't keep falling back into the old ways that have caused me to miss the ways of life so often in the past.
Do you know your heart? It's harder than you think.
Take this word from the Word to heart today.
"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be." (Jeremiah 17:9-10, The Message)
________________________
Lord God, show me my heart today.
Shine the light into the secret corners.
I believe that Jesus died for forgive me, so
help me to apply that forgiveness to the secret sins
that I've even hidden from myself.
Give me trusted friends and counselors
who will help me work out my salvation,
finding a renewed mind,
a heart deep experience of Your Grace.
And may I live with joy,
blessed and being a blessing,
for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Lord God, show me my heart today.
Shine the light into the secret corners.
I believe that Jesus died for forgive me, so
help me to apply that forgiveness to the secret sins
that I've even hidden from myself.
Give me trusted friends and counselors
who will help me work out my salvation,
finding a renewed mind,
a heart deep experience of Your Grace.
And may I live with joy,
blessed and being a blessing,
for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Monday, March 05, 2007
One Holy Passion
The Sunday edition of The Express Times had an article about multi-tasking- the way many of us function in life. We talk on our cell phone while driving our car, while we listen to the radio. In the office we are reading email, while talking on phone, while working on a memo, while getting budget figures together. I read it with interest since that is how I conduct my life most of the time. The author reported that studies reveal that multi-tasking does not necessarily make a person more productive. It just appears that way. In actuality each time a person changes focus, he loses efficiency and effectiveness. Trying to do two things at the same time is, according to the author, "a road to mediocrity."
It is not only our focus and attention that gets divided. Many of us live with hearts that are divided, with many loves. No, I'm not talking about romantic attachments to people other than our spouse! I'm talking about what gets us going in life, the attitudes and attachments that form the core of our identity. If you are reading this TFTD, it is likely that you are a Believer, a person who loves God. But is it a singular love? Is your love of God the hub from which all other aspects of your life radiate, the governing quality of who you are and what you do?
A man once came to Jesus to inquire about eternal life. "Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?" (Luke 18:18, CEV) Jesus asked him whether he was obedient to the commandments. The man claimed that he was scrupulous in his morality. From Jesus' answer, which did not challenge the honesty of his reply, I conclude the man was telling the truth. Then Jesus threw him a big challenge: "If you want to be perfect (complete and spiritually whole), go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:21, NLT) The one thing the man could not claim was a singular love for God. He loved his stuff and Jesus knew it. So, He told him to get rid of it and learn to love God with his whole heart. The tragic end of that story is that the man was "crestfallen... He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go." (Matthew 19:22, The Message)
Let's not miss the point of the story. It is not about a command to universal poverty! It is about the importance of a heart that is undivided. It is not just money that captivates our hearts. We can be in love with reputation, with pleasure, with our family, with status, with sports, with financial security, with physical fitness, with intellect; the list is long and varied. Jesus' challenge to that man is rephrased for each one of us in this commandment. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37, NIV)
Some of you are wondering, perhaps even raising an objection. "But my heart goes its own way. I cannot control my feelings." That is wrong on two counts.
First, love is not a feeling; it is a choice of will. Attractions come and go. Desires to own things and people arise in us uninvited. That is not love! That is just desire or infatuation.
Second, you are in control of your heart. It is not an easy thing to tame, nor is it pleasant to say 'no' to a heart that yearns for something it cannot have. It will ache and even break!
If you have trusted Christ as your Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit lives in you giving you strength to govern the impulses of your heart. The Word would not command you to do what is impossible and we read this directive: "You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side." (Colossians 3:1, CEV) If we want to become Christians who lives consistently please God, the place to begin is at the core - in our hearts - seeking one holy passion.
Here's a word from the Word in which God promises a renewal. Read it with faith!
"They will return to it (Israel, the home of the people of God) and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezekiel 11:18-20, NIV)
An undivided heart - that's what pleases Him and what makes us truly effective in His service.
_____________________________
A Pure Heart - Rusty Nelson
A pure heart, that's what I long for,
A heart that follows hard after Thee;
A pure heart, that's what I long for,
A heart that follows hard after Thee.
A heart that hides Your Word
So that sin will not come in,
A heart that's undivided
But one You rule and reign;
A heart that beats compassion,
That pleases You, my Lord,
A sweet aroma of worship
That rises to Your throne.
© 1992 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055
It is not only our focus and attention that gets divided. Many of us live with hearts that are divided, with many loves. No, I'm not talking about romantic attachments to people other than our spouse! I'm talking about what gets us going in life, the attitudes and attachments that form the core of our identity. If you are reading this TFTD, it is likely that you are a Believer, a person who loves God. But is it a singular love? Is your love of God the hub from which all other aspects of your life radiate, the governing quality of who you are and what you do?
A man once came to Jesus to inquire about eternal life. "Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?" (Luke 18:18, CEV) Jesus asked him whether he was obedient to the commandments. The man claimed that he was scrupulous in his morality. From Jesus' answer, which did not challenge the honesty of his reply, I conclude the man was telling the truth. Then Jesus threw him a big challenge: "If you want to be perfect (complete and spiritually whole), go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:21, NLT) The one thing the man could not claim was a singular love for God. He loved his stuff and Jesus knew it. So, He told him to get rid of it and learn to love God with his whole heart. The tragic end of that story is that the man was "crestfallen... He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go." (Matthew 19:22, The Message)
Let's not miss the point of the story. It is not about a command to universal poverty! It is about the importance of a heart that is undivided. It is not just money that captivates our hearts. We can be in love with reputation, with pleasure, with our family, with status, with sports, with financial security, with physical fitness, with intellect; the list is long and varied. Jesus' challenge to that man is rephrased for each one of us in this commandment. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37, NIV)
Some of you are wondering, perhaps even raising an objection. "But my heart goes its own way. I cannot control my feelings." That is wrong on two counts.
First, love is not a feeling; it is a choice of will. Attractions come and go. Desires to own things and people arise in us uninvited. That is not love! That is just desire or infatuation.
Second, you are in control of your heart. It is not an easy thing to tame, nor is it pleasant to say 'no' to a heart that yearns for something it cannot have. It will ache and even break!
If you have trusted Christ as your Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit lives in you giving you strength to govern the impulses of your heart. The Word would not command you to do what is impossible and we read this directive: "You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side." (Colossians 3:1, CEV) If we want to become Christians who lives consistently please God, the place to begin is at the core - in our hearts - seeking one holy passion.
Here's a word from the Word in which God promises a renewal. Read it with faith!
"They will return to it (Israel, the home of the people of God) and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezekiel 11:18-20, NIV)
An undivided heart - that's what pleases Him and what makes us truly effective in His service.
_____________________________
A Pure Heart - Rusty Nelson
A pure heart, that's what I long for,
A heart that follows hard after Thee;
A pure heart, that's what I long for,
A heart that follows hard after Thee.
A heart that hides Your Word
So that sin will not come in,
A heart that's undivided
But one You rule and reign;
A heart that beats compassion,
That pleases You, my Lord,
A sweet aroma of worship
That rises to Your throne.
© 1992 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055
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