Archive for November, 2009

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Illogical Behavior

Friday, November 6th, 2009

People are a fascinating species, really. Sometimes they do the most illogical things and then wonder why they run into trouble.

The other day I heard about an unmarried couple who knelt by a bed and asked God to bless their relationship moments before they crawled into the sack together. Like, what’s with that? How can they honestly think He’ll smile and condone what they’re doing when they’re blatantly going against His Word?

We might tsk-tsk this couple’s behavior, but I’ll bet we do similar things. How about speeding all the way to church so we’re not late for the worship service? Or withholding tithes and offerings from the Lord and then asking Him to provide our needs financially? Or backbiting someone who’s hurt us and then asking God to heal the relationship?

Our strange behavior isn’t new. It’s been around for generations – you can read about it in Ezekiel 14:3-4. Here’s what God said about it – “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that lead them into sin. Why should I let them ask me anything? Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I, the Lord, will punish the people of Israel who set up idols in their heart so they fall into sin and then come to a prophet asking for help.”

Hmmm. Looks like God makes no promises about answering the prayers of those who turn their backs on Him, fall into sin, and then come crying for help with no intention of changing their ways. It’s illogical to expect Him to feel otherwise. After all, why should He bless the relationship of a couple that’s having sex outside of marriage when He’s forbidden it in His Word? Why should He protect me from accidents and speeding tickets as I race to church when He tells me to obey the laws of the land? Why should He bless me financially if I’m not giving Him what He owns in the first place?

Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts. Have we established idols there? Have we embraced things that have led us into sin? Are we expecting God to help us or bless us in the midst of this behavior? If so, it’s time to turn around and do things God’s way. Then, and only then, can we expect His richest blessing

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Give Me a Tender Heart

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

It’s funny how kids’ personalities are so different even when raised in the same household. One child, for instance, can have a steel will. When reprimanded, he’ll stomp from the room and slam a door behind him for emphasis. He’ll drive his parents to their knees, leaving them begging God for wisdom and patience and self-control.

Then along comes a sibling. This one doesn’t need a verbal rebuke for wrong doing. A parent simply needs to cast a disapproving glance his way, and he crumbles. The mere thought of displeasing his folks is enough to make him walk the straight and narrow way.

Ezekiel 11:19,20 says, “I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. And I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people and I will be their God.”

Some people, like the steel-willed child, have hearts of stone. They’re stubborn, rebellious, and insolent. They could care less what God wants or says because they’re bent on doing life their way. In contrast, others have tender hearts. They’re sensitive to spiritual matters and eager to please the Lord. If they do wrong, they’re quick to correct their ways because they can’t bear His displeasure or grief.

In all honesty, I confess to occasionally struggling with a heart of stone, but God’s workin’ on me in that regard. Slowly, but surely, He’s tenderizing me with an ever-growing understanding of how sweet it is to walk in His ways. More and more, I’m finding freedom and joy in submitting to His laws and regulations. There’s sheer delight in knowing that I’m bringing Him pleasure rather than causing Him grief by stomping from His presence and slamming the door behind me. I’m so thankful for His patience and perseverance in my life.

How are you doing in this regard? Is your heart like stone, or is it tender and eager to obey God? I pray it’s the latter so you can experience His richest blessings.

“Father, thank You for wanting relationship with us. Thank You for caring enough about us to tell us how to live so we can enjoy the richest, deepest relationship possible. Remove our hearts of stone and exchange them for tender hearts. Give us sensitivity to Your Spirit and Your voice. Give us a desire to please you in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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Rest versus Religious Tradition

Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Iwona (pronounced ee-vo-nah) is a Polish friend who lives in Krakow, Poland. She just emailed to say she’d spent yesterday afternoon passing out Bibles and tracts at a cemetery gate. That might sound a little odd if you’re not familiar with Eastern European religious tradition, so I’ll explain.

In Poland, Catholics celebrate All Saint’s Day by cleaning the graves of their dead loved ones and hiring priests to pray for those already deceased. Merchants sell their wares – silk floral arrangements, glass-enclosed candles (to burn on the graves ‘round-the-clock), and food – on the streets outside the cemeteries. Merchants outside the cemetery gateIt’s quite the show, and it’s expensive for those who can barely afford to pay their rent and grocery bill, but the people believe it must be done to ensure a place in heaven for their loved ones.

As a young woman, Iwona placed her saving faith in Jesus Christ. Doing so meant turning her back on her Catholic upbringing and its traditions. It incurred the wrath of her family. The cost, in her opinion, was worth it. Why? Because she understood that salvation is not earned by obeying religious traditions or doing good works, but it’s the free gift of God to those who believe that Jesus paid the death penalty once for all who place their saving faith in Him.

Today, Iwona is an evangelist extraordinaire. She shares the Good News of salvation with anyone who will listen because she has discovered forgiveness and freedom in Christ, and she longs for her countrymen to know the same. No longer working to earn her salvation, she testifies to the spiritual rest of God referred to in Hebrews 4:10 – ‘For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world.”

How about you? Have you entered God’s rest by placing your saving faith in Jesus Christ? Have you received His free gift of eternal life? Or are you laboring in religious tradition, trying to guarantee a place in heaven? If the latter, my prayer is that you’ll soon understand that salvation cannot be earned, and that you’ll enter God’s rest.

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