It’s about my heart…

 

And the Lord said by his servants the prophets, “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols, therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.” Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. (2 Kings 21:10–16)

Since sin is defined in Isaiah as “turning our own way” then there are no sinless people. Since our human tendency is to describe sin as outwardly immoral actions, many do not think they are sinners. Last night I listened to a conversation about money and how to get more of it. Those speaking had no idea that their love of money was a sin, a form of idolatry. Getting rich was a priority over being holy.

Manasseh knew the obedience called for by the Lord, but his heart was not in it. His life is evidence that the heart eventually shows up in actions and those actions spilled out. Not only that, his sin affected the people he was supposed to govern. Instead of being and living as God's chosen ones, they followed their leader into sinful living.

Today we celebrate the risen Christ who died that our sins do not do what the sins of Manasseh did. However, if we define sin as Isaiah did, turning our own way means sin is much more than murder, stealing, lying, and so on. Jesus said so, illustrating this way:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27–28) 
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

Bluntly, even an evil thought is sin. Therefore, no one can boast of purity and no wonder that the wise King Solomon wrote: 

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? (Proverbs 20:9)
Who can say, Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2)
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

As a Christian, forgiveness, new life and the power of the Holy Spirit are part of having that new heart, but I still have that old nature. It is dead to God and very much challenged to remain that way. A young missionary said, “The problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar.” We may not sin like Manasseh did, but just turning my own way is sin, evident in my actions, and those actions affect others. 

Lord Jesus, I honor Your sacrificial death and the glory of Your resurrection by guarding my heart, replacing my way with Your thoughts, reading Your Word and thinking about what I read so it comes out in actions, knowing that those words and actions can affect those around me. Grant me faith and confidence as those doubts and fears so often attack. My life will not be perfect in this life, yet I don’t want to be like Manasseh. 

 

Integrity is vital

At times I’ve tried to speak kindly to people that I don’t feel kindly toward. If another person always talks and never listens, I might act as if I care about all their stories but really don’t. If another person lies to me, I might be polite, but inside I’m not trusting them. If another person goes through the motions of paying attention but is not really listening, I often stop talking just to see what they will do.

I know that Jesus did not have this dual thing going on. He never sinned in pretense — to care when He didn’t because He always cared. He also knows what is in every heart and does not trust Himself to those who fake it. He deals in truth. As the NT says:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

Reading this shows the connection of inner character and outer behavior. If they do not match, then it is called hypocrisy or lack of integrity. Connecting that to ‘pretending to be nice’ means that I am not true to myself or to my inner feelings. The solution has two aspects.

One is to be true to how I really feel. Sometimes that is hurtful, but it can also be helpful — only if negative feelings are true about the other person and they are spoken in love like Jesus speaks. His words that expose my sinfulness are loving because He knows the destruction power of sin. He does not want me to go merrily about my bad attitudes so He speaks to me about them.

However, there are times when speaking to another person about their sin is not appropriate and it is better to talk to God about it and let Him deal with them. This means listening to the Holy Spirit to make sure I’m not being silent for the wrong reasons, such as fear of losing a friend.

When John wrote, “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father” (2 John 4) he was likely referring to gospel truth and the ‘children’ mentioned had faith in Christ, confessed their sins, and were growing more like Jesus. What stands out to me is that he rejoiced in this. If my attitude of “walking in truth” makes people joyful, that is a good thing. Some will not respond this way though because the truth is: unbelievers will hate those who have faith even to persecuting Christians in various ways.

All of this applies to how I think of Jesus. I can say that I know Him and trust Him, but what do I really think? Several verses tell me that His name says much about Him besides that He is truth. He is also Immanuel (which means, God with us (Matthew 1:23) and Light, and the only Way to the Father. Do my thoughts and actions match? Can I hide anything in my head or heart from Him? Not only that, if I say He is “Master” or “Lord” but am not obeying what He commands, do I really think that my Christian words can hide my thoughts from Him? My actions will eventually reveal them because if I really think He is my Lord, I will do what He says. And one of the things He says is:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

This phrase “the abundance of the heart” is not about the fleeting things that fly in to tempt me, but about what my mind dwells on. If it is not on Christ and on doing the will of God, it is apt to be my will and my way — which translates to selfishness and sinful disobedience. Trying to look good on the outside does not cut it if my heart is unkind or even nasty. This is just one way I can call Jesus Lord but not do as He says.

PRAY: Jesus, more and more I’m seeing how thoughts connect to actions and how they need to match. This is not just about negative junk that needs to be confessed, but about truth concerning You that needs to be shared. I need wisdom and discernment from You to match how I think with how I behave and how I respond to others.


 

An attitude check ahead . . .

 

It was a long, difficult night. Waiting to meet someone yesterday, I went to a restaurant, had lunch, then did a few chores on my computer. Lunch was good, but my digestive system didn’t agree and had me up most of the night getting rid of it. I should feel tired and be crabby but a few verses from Scripture and along comes joy and contentment. I can relate to how the crowds must have felt when Jesus did this:

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying . . . . (Matthew 5:1–2)

The words of this sermon are fresh, new, not heard before. When Jesus taught, preached, or healed people, the crowds were excited, even those who didn’t agree with Him. Multitudes followed and thousands came for healing and to hear truth. Mockery happened too, but that didn’t stop Him.

Every day, Jesus speaks something fresh to my heart. I need only to show up, read what the Word of God says, and my life is blessed. That includes being convicted of sin yet immediately forgiven and made clean. It also includes reminders of who He is and what He has done in my life. Today, He points to the attitudes that bring blessing. This includes humility, sorrow over sin, gentleness, righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peace, and the experience of happiness that even severe persecution can’t destroy.

I often thank God for His blessings and a big part of my list is about circumstances, like a comfortable home, good friends, and the ability to do things helpful and fruitful. This morning, I want to thank Him for a contented heart — when it would be easy to complain.

Jesus often proclaimed a standard of living diametrically opposed to the standards of His day — and ours. He boldly denounced ritual and hypocrisy. He taught that true faith is a matter of the heart and that people behave as their hearts dictate.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

This means the key to transformed behavior is transformed thinking. I cannot be joyful after a sleepless night unless I am trusting the Lord, knowing He allowed it, can use it for good, and it need not ruin my joy.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

A transformed mind is the result of thinking God’s thoughts. The only way that can happen is by reading His Word and doing what it says, in faith. Trusting Him changes the way I live. It transforms me because faith enables me to see the will of God, and that His will is good, perfect. Mine is flawed and selfish, short-sighted and usually with a me-first emphasis. My mother often said, ‘You will be the happiest when you do things for others.’ Certainly, this thought is contrary to the world. It is a kingdom principle that Jesus teaches to all who will listen.

Jesus, since MacArthur’s next devotions will be in the Beatitudes, I am looking forward to You conforming me to Your attitudes. Help me recognize any attitude changes that are needed and rejoice knowing that You know what is best for me. You keep proving this over and over. Thank You!

PREPARE: Read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7 and notice how Jesus’ listeners reacted. Compare that to my reactions.

 

Putting God First

When our youngest was very small, I was in the hospital for surgery and talked often with the patient in the next bed. One day she said, “Do you realize you talk more about your little boy than your other two children?”

It was a wake-up for me and I thanked her for this mild rebuke. It helped me be more aware of how my conversation revealed my priorities and that priorities can easily be off-balance.

These days, I’m thinking about MacArthur’s focus on glorifying God. He does it well. Me? Not so well. I’ve concluded this is a matter of the heart. I cannot fake it, nor can I make it happen by practice. The words and actions must just flow out, much like the spontaneous devotion a mom gives to a little one.

It does help to say it in prayer. Jesus told His disciples, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . . .’” This illustrates the priority God should hold in my prayers. If I do that from the heart, it becomes a priority in other conversations. I cannot fake my prayers.

Today’s devotional points out that this model for prayer begins by exalting the Father, then requesting that the Father’s Kingdom come and His will be done. It concludes also with praise — making most of the prayer about the glory of God.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen (Matthew 6:9–13, last line added in some versions)

Christians know God is in heaven and exalted. Why do we need to say it? What is the point of praising Him, particularly when we come with heavy hearts and serious needs? For one thing, saying “Hallowed be Thy name” exalts the name of the Lord and sets a tone of worship and submission that is sustained throughout the prayer. I find that if I begin and end with what I want from God, I’m not in a frame of mind that thinks of His wisdom and power concerning my requests. With a focus on my needs and without praise for God, my assurance can easily go down the tube. How do I affirm that God hears and answers when all I can think of is what I want Him to do?

On the other hand, if I exalt His name and express love and reverence, my love and sense of trust expands. So does my anticipation about His answer to my prayers, and so does my desire to obey Him.

MacArthur points out that “Your name” is not about a title but about God Himself, the total of who He is. The ancient Hebrew people considered the name of God so sacred that they would not speak it, but that misses the point. Praising His name is about uplifting who He is, not just in words but glorifying Him from the heart.

Jesus said, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) This says that what I treasure in my heart will show up in my speech, as if I didn’t already know it. That treasure could be a loved child, but it could also be a host of things other than the wonder of my heavenly Father.

The Bible affirms that God has been revealed in Jesus. He said, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world . . .” (John 17:6). John 1:14 defines what that means:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is why Jesus could say: “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father . . . . (John 14:9) Philip and all of humanity cannot see God, but we can see His Son and know His glory. Being focused on Jesus rather than on me, myself, and I means a far greater likelihood of glorifying Him. If this is not happening when I pray, it is not likely to happen in the rest of my life either.

Jesus, You are amazing. I’ve been purging unnecessary stuff from my home, and You are telling me to do the same with my mind. Like I decide the value of an item, or where it fits, or if it just gets in the way, I can do the same with inner stuff, like thoughts, preoccupations, ideas and plans. Grant me wisdom for purging my mind, but also fill it with Yourself. You are First — and I must think, talk and behave with that priority. Hallowed be Your name!

FOR THOUGHT: Read Romans 2:17-29. How did the Jews abuse the name of God? What does this suggest about my efforts to honor God’s name?