03/14/2020
We may serve the Lord, pray eloquent prayers, give to the poor, and do all of those other commandments and mercies that God’s Word speaks of, but does that make us righteous? Does that make us Holy? At the end of the day are we any closer to our Heavenly Father? The question in doing any of these things should be this: “Am I doing this thing lovingly, and because I love the Lord?”, and if we stutter in our response, or can’t honestly say “Yes!”, then it is time to stop doing them and look closer at our faith, our heart, and our relationship with God.
“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”
Proverbs 16:2 ESV
My wife had foot surgery this week, and she has been unable to do very much for herself, so I have been helping her walk wherever she goes so that she doesn’t fall, bringing meals to her, making certain she is comfortable in her bed, or in her chair, and all of the other things she typically does for herself. You are probably saying to yourself “well sure, you are her husband! You should do that!”, and you are right, but if I do these things reluctantly, or out of marital obligation then what have I really done? Have I brought our relationship to a higher plane? Have I shown her that I truly love her? No, I have simply checked the boxes so that others won’t feel less of me, I can say I have done them, or maybe I do them so that I will appear to be a better husband than I actually am, but is our relationship any better for it? If I don’t tend to my wife out of love then I have done nothing except lie to myself by pretending to be pure. When our heart is not in those things we do for the Lord God it is the same...
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV
Pastors quote this scripture quite often, usually right before they pass the offering plate, or preach on tithing, but it applies to everything we do in our lives of faith; all those things that Jesus asks us to do. Every service we provide in God’s name, each time we pray, or do something faithful, and in how we look at our relationships with God and Jesus. How can we say that we glorify God in all we do and not do those things with a loving heart?
“"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:36-37 ESV
It is good to say that God is first in our lives, but when Jesus describes the first great commandment He doesn’t say that we should be loyal, or obedient, He says that we should LOVE the Lord. Then he quotes the second great commandment which says we should LOVE our neighbor. We may obey all his other commandments and perform all the mercies for others that Jesus said we should, but unless our hearts are right then we have done nothing.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."”
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
So what does our Heavenly Father see when he looks at your heart and mine? Does he see a loving child, or just someone who obeys him in as he seeks to obtain an eternity in heaven, and the other rewards? When we are questioned on judgement day and Jesus asks if we have been faithful to God will we say that we prayed, prophesied, and did the other things, or will we fall to our knees and say “I have loved, and served my Father with all my heart!”?
“"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
Today we should look closely at ourselves, and ask if our motivation for obeying God’s Word is love, or just to receive His rewards. We should determine whether Jesus abides in us and we in him as a loving husband, or wife abides with their spouse, or whether we stay with him out of an obligation to a vow, convenience, or perhaps the rewards we receive. There are many of us who first come to Him during terrible moments in our lives and ask Him to help us, but afterwards do we come to love Him, or do we just stay in His house out of a sense of obligation? What is the state of your spirit? What is really in your heart when it comes to God, and Jesus Christ? Are you a child of God?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for revealing your will to me, and asking me to obey your Word, and the gospel, but most of all Lord, I thank you for loving me, and allowing me to love you. Look into my heart Father, and see that I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Find also that I desire to do all you ask of me, and all that my faith requires of me out of the love I have for you. Teach me Merciful Father to love my neighbors just as you do, and to be kind and show mercy to them out of that same love, and not my perceived obligation to scripture. Help me in my unbelief, and also in my ability to love. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who loves like no other, and who teaches me to love all the more each day. Great is your might, your strong right arm, but merciful is your heart, and good your spirit. I praise your name Lord because you saw fit to love me when I was yet a sinner, and to call me out of the darkness I was in. I worship you in love Father, and thank you for allowing me to abide in your son, and He in you. See my heart, and find it worthy because it is covered by the blood of Jesus, and your grace which flows through Him. All glory is yours Father, now and forevermore.
“"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8 ESV
Rich Forbes