A Matter of the Heart
God has been reminding me lately that he is interested in my heart more than anything else that I have to offer. Not my talents, not my accomplishments, nor any of the "good things" that I have done. This is such a contrast to what the world considers to be important.
The keepers of the Law in Jesus' day were so consumed with their status and traditions based on the Laws that God once gave them. For them, it had become ritual, routine, and a matter of pride. However, Jesus rebuked them over and over again because they were missing the point: He spoke of them with these words; "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (Matt. 15:8-9). How tragic it was for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in all of his glory to be standing in front of these men, and yet they did not even recognize who he really was. They did not have eyes to see or ears to hear because their hearts were "far from him." Perhaps this is why Solomon told his son, "Listen closely to my words; do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your HEART; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your HEART, for it is the wellspring of life." (Prov. 4:20-23)
The risen Lord is in our midst today. Will we see him? Will we hear him? Christ reminds us in Matthew 5:8 that those who see God are those who are pure in HEART. It is our hearts he is after; not our traditions, our rituals, our status, or our hard work. Oh God, may our worship not be in vain to you. Let us hear your voice and see your glory as we seek you with whole hearts!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Remembrance
There is a theme of remembrance throughout the Bible. In Deuteronomy 4:9, God reminds us to watch ourselves closely so that we do not forget the things our eyes have seen, or let them slip from our hearts...
God knows that we are forgetful creatures. I am especially guilty of forgetfulness if I don't write myself a note of reminder. I have even written sticky notes to remind me of things, and then I forgot where I put the sticky notes!
Sometimes, people tie strings to their fingers to remember events, times, etc. God told the Jews to bind what he told them to their foreheads. Some of them took God at his Word and strapped little boxes to their foreheads. The boxes contained sections of Scripture. Though this is a little extreme, the ancient Jews had the right idea. Keep God's Word ever visible!
My faith can be shaken so easily by circumstances, but when I REMEMBER the promises of God, my faith is strengthened once again. When I am walking through the darkness and the storms, I must REMEMBER that the Lord is my light and my salvation...whom/what shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)
I love reading the final words of Jesus as he spent time with his disciples before his death. He eloquently spoke in parables and used images that would stay with the disciples after he left this earth. Most importantly, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit who would come and REMIND them of all that he had said to them. As he ate the last supper with his disciples, Jesus said, "Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me." In other words, "DO NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT. DO NOT FORGET ANYTHING THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU." For he knew that their faith would be tested beyond anything they could imagine.
As we enter this Palm Sunday, and Holy Week, let us REMEMBER the things that Christ has said to us. Let us REMEMBER his life, his death and ultimately, his resurrection. And finally, let us REMEMBER that he promises to be with us, even to the very end of the age. Hallelujah!
God knows that we are forgetful creatures. I am especially guilty of forgetfulness if I don't write myself a note of reminder. I have even written sticky notes to remind me of things, and then I forgot where I put the sticky notes!
Sometimes, people tie strings to their fingers to remember events, times, etc. God told the Jews to bind what he told them to their foreheads. Some of them took God at his Word and strapped little boxes to their foreheads. The boxes contained sections of Scripture. Though this is a little extreme, the ancient Jews had the right idea. Keep God's Word ever visible!
My faith can be shaken so easily by circumstances, but when I REMEMBER the promises of God, my faith is strengthened once again. When I am walking through the darkness and the storms, I must REMEMBER that the Lord is my light and my salvation...whom/what shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)
I love reading the final words of Jesus as he spent time with his disciples before his death. He eloquently spoke in parables and used images that would stay with the disciples after he left this earth. Most importantly, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit who would come and REMIND them of all that he had said to them. As he ate the last supper with his disciples, Jesus said, "Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me." In other words, "DO NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT. DO NOT FORGET ANYTHING THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU." For he knew that their faith would be tested beyond anything they could imagine.
As we enter this Palm Sunday, and Holy Week, let us REMEMBER the things that Christ has said to us. Let us REMEMBER his life, his death and ultimately, his resurrection. And finally, let us REMEMBER that he promises to be with us, even to the very end of the age. Hallelujah!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Dependence
2 Cor. 12:9 "My power is made perfect in weakness...for when I am weak, then I am strong--the less I have, the more I depend on Him." (TLB)
It has been said that when God wants to do something great, He starts with a difficulty. When God wants to do something miraculous, He starts with an impossibility. The weaknesses or limitations that we possess will create difficulties or even possibilities in many of our situations.
When our weakness and limitations are combined with an overwhelming task, this can be an invitation for God to overwhelm us with His presence and power as He partners with us to accomplish the task.
I have a hard time viewing weakness as a good thing, but God seems to think otherwise. He seems touse our weaknesses to transform us from arrogant to humble, from insecure to bold, from impulsive to stable and hot-tempered to patient. This kind of transformation can only come from complete dependence on Him.
For me to realize a weakness, it is as if I've exposed an open wound. But what I have found as I have admitted my weakness to the Lord, is that I am taking steps toward freedom--freedom from carrying the heavy load of self-sufficiency. I can then cross over that difficult threshold of faith into total dependence on God. Of course, the only way I can do that, is to come to the end of myself. Why do I want to hang onto "myself"? I am not the one that the world needs to see, but Christ! When I completely depend on Christ through my weakness, it is His sufficiency and power that is made absolutely whole and complete in me. Then, the world no longer sees my weakness, but His power.
I just have to remind myself that it is about less of me and more of Him. My total dependence on God insures my security, increases my faith, and allows me to influence others to depend on God as well.
I guess we all need to remember that when we are feeling weak, that God is remind us to depend on Him. We can then boast about our weaknesses as the apostle Paul did, for through them, God's power is unleashed!
"Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong!" (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
2 Cor. 12:9 "My power is made perfect in weakness...for when I am weak, then I am strong--the less I have, the more I depend on Him." (TLB)
It has been said that when God wants to do something great, He starts with a difficulty. When God wants to do something miraculous, He starts with an impossibility. The weaknesses or limitations that we possess will create difficulties or even possibilities in many of our situations.
When our weakness and limitations are combined with an overwhelming task, this can be an invitation for God to overwhelm us with His presence and power as He partners with us to accomplish the task.
I have a hard time viewing weakness as a good thing, but God seems to think otherwise. He seems touse our weaknesses to transform us from arrogant to humble, from insecure to bold, from impulsive to stable and hot-tempered to patient. This kind of transformation can only come from complete dependence on Him.
For me to realize a weakness, it is as if I've exposed an open wound. But what I have found as I have admitted my weakness to the Lord, is that I am taking steps toward freedom--freedom from carrying the heavy load of self-sufficiency. I can then cross over that difficult threshold of faith into total dependence on God. Of course, the only way I can do that, is to come to the end of myself. Why do I want to hang onto "myself"? I am not the one that the world needs to see, but Christ! When I completely depend on Christ through my weakness, it is His sufficiency and power that is made absolutely whole and complete in me. Then, the world no longer sees my weakness, but His power.
I just have to remind myself that it is about less of me and more of Him. My total dependence on God insures my security, increases my faith, and allows me to influence others to depend on God as well.
I guess we all need to remember that when we are feeling weak, that God is remind us to depend on Him. We can then boast about our weaknesses as the apostle Paul did, for through them, God's power is unleashed!
"Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong!" (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
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