“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
The God of the Bible ~ the One who created all things and holds all things together ~ He sees us as no one else can. In fact, He sees us even as we ourselves cannot. He sees us for who we really are. This can be a scary reality for some. Those who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior but live lives in opposition to His Word don't like to hear it. Those who don't know God personally and are looking for reasons not to approach the possibility can use this as a reason to stay away for fear of condemnation. Even those who profess Christ as Lord and Savior and strive to live according to His Word but are struggling with a secret sin want to gloss over this passage and/or point out it is from the Old Testament and therefore no longer necessary to apply to their lives since they now live under grace.
No matter who it is who is reading it, the verse is truth. The beauty is knowing we can approach the throne of grace with confidence in repentance and desire for a clean heart. Realizing the Jesus we interact with is the very One who didn't belittle the woman at the well but spoke truth and grace to her allows us to come out of hiding and live freely before Him. It also allows us...no, demands that we...live in love. Our actions ~ the ways we treat others, the ways we talk, the ways we do business, etc ~ those are what reflect our true hearts.
Ask God to show you (in His amazingly tender way) who you are. Allow yourself to be cleansed from the inside out and live in obedience to Him. Then, live in a way that allows others to, as well. People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. God cares...deeply, passionately, for each of us. If you are saying your life is devoted to Him, are you showing others how much you care or how much you know? What will your reward be?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Transformers
Acts 9:15-16, 29-31 "But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! this man is my chosn instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name...(29)He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
I couldn't help but wonder when I read verse 16, "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" if Saul/Paul had any idea what God was going to do in his life in order to use him to increase the Kingdom? To be met on the road by the very One you persecute and whose followers you kill, and to come "face-to-face" with the lies of what you believe and fight for? How powerful that transformation!! Anyone could live a life transformed in that situation, but to have your beliefs and not your personality changed, that is where the whole thing changes. Paul was a bold and confident man. When he believed something, he believed it was worth fighting to the death for. This is seen in how people reacted to him in the verses between the verses I have posted here (an amazing biography ~ you won't be disappointed in taking the time to read it!). They were fearful and cautious in accepting him. Even the very man God called to restore Saul/Paul's eyesight, Annanias, responded with, "I have heard many reports about this and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem..." Saul's reputation had gone before Paul the Transformed...the price he paid was great.
However, it is that last verse up there that shows the true power of transformation, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. I'll venture to bet Paul's words had an impact, yes, but how much more powerful and impactful the power of his transformation in Christ!
How about you? Are you willing to accept the consequences of facing who you were in order to show who you are in Christ? How is the Word of God transforming you so you can share the Gospel with those around you...using words when necessary?
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
I couldn't help but wonder when I read verse 16, "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" if Saul/Paul had any idea what God was going to do in his life in order to use him to increase the Kingdom? To be met on the road by the very One you persecute and whose followers you kill, and to come "face-to-face" with the lies of what you believe and fight for? How powerful that transformation!! Anyone could live a life transformed in that situation, but to have your beliefs and not your personality changed, that is where the whole thing changes. Paul was a bold and confident man. When he believed something, he believed it was worth fighting to the death for. This is seen in how people reacted to him in the verses between the verses I have posted here (an amazing biography ~ you won't be disappointed in taking the time to read it!). They were fearful and cautious in accepting him. Even the very man God called to restore Saul/Paul's eyesight, Annanias, responded with, "I have heard many reports about this and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem..." Saul's reputation had gone before Paul the Transformed...the price he paid was great.
However, it is that last verse up there that shows the true power of transformation, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. I'll venture to bet Paul's words had an impact, yes, but how much more powerful and impactful the power of his transformation in Christ!
How about you? Are you willing to accept the consequences of facing who you were in order to show who you are in Christ? How is the Word of God transforming you so you can share the Gospel with those around you...using words when necessary?
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