Time For a heart Exam
Hardness of the heart is more deadly than hardening of the arteries.
“The devil made me do it.” That isn’t just a line made famous by comedian Flip Wilson. It is also a popular excuse that many people use when they are confronted with their own sinful conduct. It makes for a good punch line, but it is a lousy excuse.
The devil doesn’t make you do anything. Your heart does. (I’m not talking about the blood-pumping muscle in your chest; I’m referring to your inner spirit.) The heart of every person is inclined toward sin from the moment of birth. It doesn’t get any better on its own. A heart transplant is required if you are going to enjoy real life. Your sinful heart must be replaced with a heart filled with God’s love.
“The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Jeremiah 17:9
Choices, Choices
You won’t have to take your chances so often if you make wise choices more often.
Choices. We make them every day. Some are insignificant (”What cereal should I eat for breakfast?”). Others are monumental (”Should I marry this person?”).
Behavior is also a matter of choice. Every day, throughout the day, we choose between following the desires of our sinful nature or following the direction of the Holy Spirit. The sinful nature will lead us to immorality, destruction, and despair. In sharp contrast, the Holy Spirit will fill your life with love, joy, and peace.
When you are faced with the choice of following your sinful nature or following the Holy Spirit, remind yourself of the consequence of each choice.
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient…. Our lives were full of evil and envy…. But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:3-5
Valuing Others
If you look for the best in people, you are likely to find value in every person.
It seems that our natural tendency is to be critical of other people. (Maybe it makes us feel better about ourselves if we belittle someone else.) As with most of our natural tendencies and instincts, God wants us to act in the opposite manner.
Instead of finding fault at the outset, we should look for the good in every individual. Think of it as a type of treasure hunt. You’re looking for the value in people. You may be surprised that you will find much more than you expected at the outset of your research.
We acknowledge that this may be particularly difficult to do with some individuals. But even with the most abrasive person, you won’t come up empty in your treasure hunt. Every person has value because each of us is loved by God.
Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27
Choose Your Blessing
*Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve,’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4:8-11*
Could it be to far fetched that we have become above reproach as Christians. We confess to believe in the bible, however, so often we overlook scripture in error of personal opinions. The devil appears to be a real in the minds of Christians, but the power he process in this world is downplayed to say the least. The bible clearly shows us in this text how the devil, “Satan” takes Jesus on a high mountain and shows Him the kingdoms of this world and their glory. Then Satan tells Jesus “All these thing I will give You if you fall down and worship me.”
Please note, Jesus did not tell Satan he did not have the power or authority to give Him this things. Not only does Satan have the power to give these things, but today men are falling down worshiping him and receiving kingdoms and glory without recognizing the giver. In the name of Jesus men and women professing to be Christians Leaders are deceiving and being deceived by the ways and riches of this world. Jesus was not here to siege the moment or take advantage of the riches of His day, but it was a future wealth that He knew of. However, today many have opted for the blessing that Jesus refused.
So many Christians leaders today are lead on the mountain by the devil and they become mesmerized by the view and blinded to what they worship. In return they teach this as gospel to their followers and in ignorance are lead astray by the twisting of scripture by Satan inspired men and women. Because this new found teaching is pleasing to the ears, the devil does not leave as he left Jesus or the angel come and minister to us as they did Him. Yet, Satan lurks in the tree in which we eat from as he did with Adam and Eve and allow the fallen angels which fell with him to minister to the followers.
With the help of the Prince of this world they are successful in building kingdoms, cities on the hill and many other names they call them. Carrying the Word of God in their hands and minds as Satan does, but far from their hearts. Luring people to the church, instead of helping them become The Church. Teaching followers to be more in tuned with the world, than in tuned with God. Using the tithe to feed their appetites, instead of the widows and the poor. They choose to entertain the people instead of making disciples of them.
Jesus told Satan, “It is written, you shall worship the LORD your God, and only serve Him.” The teaching received by many Christians is not of what is written, but what sounds good to them. There are so many gathering together were the Word is few, but the message of this world and its glory is plentiful. The worship to God is hindered by a like of knowledge of Him. Not like the worship of Satan, which come natural to a person.
It is time for Christian leaders to repent and turn their hearts back to God from the world. Begin to restore dignity and character to those who profess to be called by God. It is time for men and women of God to humble themselves to modest means and stop trying to keep up with the Jones and bow down with the great cloud of witnesses of the bible. A follower of Jesus has the Spirit of Jesus living in him, and it is not judging to call the out the tree by the fruit it bears. ~KP©
