"For The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-14 (NIV)
Here the author of the book of Hebrews describes The Word of God and explains what it can do. The author also makes it clear that all that God is aware of all that we think, say, and do. God knows everything and one day we must give an account for everything, including our thoughts and attitudes.
The people who have heard The Word of God and did not believe it, will not enter into His kingdom. (Hebrews 4:2-3) "While The Word of God is comforting and nourishing to those who believe, it is a tool of judgement and execution for those who have not committed themselves to Jesus Christ." (John MacArthur) Faithless disobedience to God's Word will not go unpunished. The same is true for pretenders who go through the motions of religious rituals but have not given their lives to Christ. It is not enough to say that we believe, our walk and our talk should reflect our belief and faith. "Our actions speak louder than our words." God is not fooled, He even knows our motives and our intentions. We need God to cleanse our minds and hearts, and to create a right spirit within us. (Psalms 51:1-15)
Showing posts with label hearts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hearts. Show all posts
Monday, October 29, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Let Our Words Match Our Hearts
"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." Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV)
Speaking to the people about the religious leaders, the Apostle Matthew quoted the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 13:29) saying that they were honoring God with their words, but their words did not reflect what was in their hearts.
We need to be very careful when we speak. God knows exactly what is in our heart, how we really feel, and what we truly believe. It is not good for us to say one thing when we believe and act differently. Maybe we should just say "yes" when we mean yes and say "no" when we mean no, and not say very much else. (Matthew 5:37 & James 5:12) We talk a lot to impress people. The more we talk, the more likely we are to say something that is offensive to God. If we believe, then our thoughts, words, and actions should reflect our beliefs. It is truly sinful when we say something, knowing that we really believe something totally different. Let's be true to our belief in God, let's make sure that our words match our hearts.
Speaking to the people about the religious leaders, the Apostle Matthew quoted the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 13:29) saying that they were honoring God with their words, but their words did not reflect what was in their hearts.
We need to be very careful when we speak. God knows exactly what is in our heart, how we really feel, and what we truly believe. It is not good for us to say one thing when we believe and act differently. Maybe we should just say "yes" when we mean yes and say "no" when we mean no, and not say very much else. (Matthew 5:37 & James 5:12) We talk a lot to impress people. The more we talk, the more likely we are to say something that is offensive to God. If we believe, then our thoughts, words, and actions should reflect our beliefs. It is truly sinful when we say something, knowing that we really believe something totally different. Let's be true to our belief in God, let's make sure that our words match our hearts.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
God Seaches Our Heart And Examines Our Mind
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 'I The Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.' " Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)
The Prophet Jeremiah was primarily concerned with the judgement of Judah. He told the people that God would judge each of them by examining their heart and thoughts to determine their motives. They would be rewarded or punished based upon what they deserve according to their thoughts, words, and deeds.
Man can only evaluate the words, actions and outward appearance of a person. God can search the heart and mind and judge the true inner nature of a person. God sees us like no one else can see us, twenty-four hours each day. When we say 'God knows my heart,' He does. We do not realize that our heart is much more deceitful than we want to admit. We should remember this when we pray and ask for the forgiveness of our sins.
The Prophet Jeremiah was primarily concerned with the judgement of Judah. He told the people that God would judge each of them by examining their heart and thoughts to determine their motives. They would be rewarded or punished based upon what they deserve according to their thoughts, words, and deeds.
Man can only evaluate the words, actions and outward appearance of a person. God can search the heart and mind and judge the true inner nature of a person. God sees us like no one else can see us, twenty-four hours each day. When we say 'God knows my heart,' He does. We do not realize that our heart is much more deceitful than we want to admit. We should remember this when we pray and ask for the forgiveness of our sins.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Don't Be A Shell Of A Christian
" '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.'" Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' " Matthew 15:8-11 (NIV)
Here Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 concerning the lips and hearts of the people. In responding to questions from the scribes and the Pharisees, who performed their religious practices out of respect for tradition, Jesus said that they were just going through the motions of worship but that they did not believe in the things that they said or did. They were more concerned with the letter of the law than the principal behind the law. They were like religious shells, their outside looked religious, but their inside was empty and hollow. Their religious teachings and rituals were based upon things that man added to the ten commandments.
Don't be like some people who go to church purely out of habit. Worship requires active participation, it is not a spectator sport. We should pray before we begin our worship activity to insure that our frame of mind, attitude, and activity will be pleasing to God. Empty ritualism will not bring us closer to God. We should make sure that behavior and worship is focused on God. What we say and teach others should be Bible based. If our heart is not in it when we worship, then we really should not do it, because we cannot fool or impress God who sees our heart. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but The Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' " Matthew 15:18
Here Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 concerning the lips and hearts of the people. In responding to questions from the scribes and the Pharisees, who performed their religious practices out of respect for tradition, Jesus said that they were just going through the motions of worship but that they did not believe in the things that they said or did. They were more concerned with the letter of the law than the principal behind the law. They were like religious shells, their outside looked religious, but their inside was empty and hollow. Their religious teachings and rituals were based upon things that man added to the ten commandments.
Don't be like some people who go to church purely out of habit. Worship requires active participation, it is not a spectator sport. We should pray before we begin our worship activity to insure that our frame of mind, attitude, and activity will be pleasing to God. Empty ritualism will not bring us closer to God. We should make sure that behavior and worship is focused on God. What we say and teach others should be Bible based. If our heart is not in it when we worship, then we really should not do it, because we cannot fool or impress God who sees our heart. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but The Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' " Matthew 15:18
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Judge Not
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until The Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God." 1 Corinthians 4:5
Judge no man, not even yourself. Often we are too hard on ourselves. When we sin and do wrong, we should confess it, ask for forgiveness and the strength not to repeat it, and move on. At the appointed time God will judge all of us. All that was done in the dark will be brought to light. Our deeds, words, thoughts, and motives will be judged.
This is a New Testament prophecy, The Lord God, Jesus The Christ, is coming back. When He comes, those of us who believe will meet Him in the air, the rapture. And when we meet Him we will be judged. That which gave God glory will be rewarded. And we will have to give an account for everything else that did not give God gory.
So, "let's get right church and let's go home."
Judge no man, not even yourself. Often we are too hard on ourselves. When we sin and do wrong, we should confess it, ask for forgiveness and the strength not to repeat it, and move on. At the appointed time God will judge all of us. All that was done in the dark will be brought to light. Our deeds, words, thoughts, and motives will be judged.
This is a New Testament prophecy, The Lord God, Jesus The Christ, is coming back. When He comes, those of us who believe will meet Him in the air, the rapture. And when we meet Him we will be judged. That which gave God glory will be rewarded. And we will have to give an account for everything else that did not give God gory.
So, "let's get right church and let's go home."
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