Does Sin Keep You Awake?
Psalm 6:6 – “I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.”
This would be a great day to cast off all hindering shackles and walk into a state of total 100% surrender and expectation! As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, several things gripped my heart. In Ezekiel 9:4, we see how important it is to be grieved over sin (ours and others). Sin should keep us awake at night, lamenting it!
In Ezekiel 8:12, God showed the prophet something relatable to our day. The elders (leaders, pastors, teachers, prophets) were hiding sin. Their public persona was not who they were in their hearts. This refers to hidden idolatry! What is an idol of the heart? It could include a divided heart, a passion for fame, fortune, or pleasure. Any heart, especially if an elder’s is not 100% submitted, is a breeding ground for idolatry.
That even includes the need to be up front and be “the man.” I’ve seen people launch ministries not because of need or the directive of God, but because they could find no other way to be the focal point. Some did not even realize that was their motive. Why we do something is always the key!
Remember the account of the two groups standing in judgment. One group was blessed and commended because of their heart, serving with no thought of self and serving others, not even realizing that their efforts were serving Jesus. The other group did exploits, but for the wrong reason, and failed. God’s works done in God’s way will receive God’s provision.
Mark 4:36 (NASB) makes a strange statement. Jesus instructed the disciples to go to the other side. It says, “And leaving the multitude, they took Him (Jesus) along with them, JUST AS HE WAS, in the boat…” Just as He was?
That stirred two thoughts in my heart. Do we see and receive Him “just as He is” or as we want Him to be? Do we make Jesus fit our religious, traditional, or ideological picture, or do we receive Him “just as He is?”
Remember His question, “Whom do you say that I AM?” Who is He, and how is He to us? He is loving but also just. He is tender but also firm. He is merciful but also holy. He is not our buddy; He is our God!
Think about the multitude of sick people in Mark 6:56. They wanted to touch His garments, and as they did, Healing came! Touching Jesus brings the touch of Jesus. We want Him to touch us, but are we pressing in to touch Him?
The world needs the purging fire of God to cleanse, heal, and restore it. That won’t happen until the church has been cleansed. That won’t happen until the leaders are restored to righteousness. A cleansed church will challenge an unrighteous world and reap a harvest! But we all have to die to ourselves and make it all about Him! Any smidgen of self-serving is leaven and will be purged. Otherwise, we may find ourselves standing before Him, hearing depart! Let’s give our all to Jesus! Let’s be the glorious church! Let’s be His representatives on the Earth.
This would be a great day to become who He says we are supposed to be!
LORD, help us to become so troubled by sin that it keeps us awake and out of the clutches of sin. Help us to see You as You are!
Hope and Heart
Lamentations 3:21-23 – “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, two words kept reverberating in my heart and mind – Hope & Heart. In Lamentations 3:21-23, the thought of Hope filled my spirit. In a time of stress and distress, the prophet was encouraged by Hope. He recalled, rehearsed, and revisited some truth anchors of his heart, giving him Hope.
God’s lovingkindness never ceases. God’s compassion never fails. In fact, he reminds himself that they are new every morning. That’s a great reason to meet God early! Begin the day in the fresh long-suffering and compassion of God!
In Mark 2:21-22, we find the revelation of Jesus through the practical domestic practice of patching clothes and the care of wine. Many make this wholly about structure or a new religious order. It contrasts the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. Yet, it is more about the heart than organizations.
The preceding discussion was about fasting. Fasting is to allow the body to step down and the eyes of the heart to turn fully from the natural to the spiritual. God does not focus on structure but on the heart. If our hearts are open to His Spirit, Hope will naturally be the fruit.
The heart of Jesus is the heart we desire and require. Jesus’ heart can be seen in many ways, but let me suggest one of the great examples is in Matthew 26:53. I doubt you have asked this question, but maybe you have. Jesus said that He could ask to be delivered, and the Father would immediately send more than 12 legions of angels.
Think about that. That was an incredible expression of love to resist doing that. He knew what was coming. Who would want to endure that? But what would have happened to humanity had Jesus made that request? Love said No, I will endure the Cross because I love!
He had Hope for Humanity, and His Heart was filled with love. He was fully surrendered to the Father’s Will. Because His Heart was fully surrendered, the Hope of humanity was realized.
We must never lose Hope! If we surrender our hearts fully, God will make us new Wineskins and fill us with new wine. Hope will spring eternal in our souls, enabling us to endure anything.
LORD, help us to be filled with Hope in our Hearts!
Are We Guilty?
Jeremiah 48:10 – “Cursed be the one who does the LORD’s work negligently…”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I sensed a sternness of the Holy Spirit and yet a heart yearning to release more. A sternness? Yes! Jeremiah 48:10 stopped me in my tracks. “Cursed be the one who does the work of the LORD negligently…” That linked back to Jeremiah 45:4, “Behold, what I have built I am about to tear down, and what I have planted I am about to uproot…”
Two thoughts immediately flooded my consciousness. Just because God blessed and established something does not allow for negligence or half-heartedness. His blessings are not unconditional. He demands our full commitment and surrender. He accepts nothing less.
That is amplified in Matthew 25 in two accounts. The Ten Virgins highlights the requirement of being vigilant in commitment and current in relationships. The account of the two groups being judged and rewarded also provides understanding.
If Christ is our life and has first place in our hearts, we are never the focus; others are! We serve others in serving Jesus. When we do good or bad, are diligent or negligent toward others, we are doing so to Jesus!
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, to seek and save the lost, and to do good to others. It is negligent to take what God has given us and not develop it. In fact, God views it as wickedness. Remember the talents 5, 2, and 1! We either walk in the blessings of God or the curse. We either walk in favor or disfavor. We either serve others or ourselves.
My cry is, “Lord, help me to never look at another’s ability or function longingly but to look at what You have given me and help me be the best at it I can be.” Why do we seek a position or function? What is our motive? Total surrender brings total peace!
LORD, help us to never be guilty of doing Your work or assignment negligently.
Just Ask
Matthew 20:32 – “And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the last thing I read was like thunder in my heart. Matthew 20:32, when the blind man cried out to Jesus, He asked the question that I believe is God’s question of the moment. “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Think about that question. It is revelatory and leads to additional questions. What do we want from Jesus? What we say or desire reveals our heart, ambition, motive, and commitment. Not what we pretend to want, but what do we truly want? What is the real desire of our hearts? Only we can answer that! Don’t get religious, but examine your heart. What do you really want?
Now, ask yourself this question, “Why do I want it?” At that juncture, we get to the revelatory part. Now, we come face to face with the condition of our hearts. Now, we see what our view of life, ourselves, and God really is. That desire says it all. Why?
If Matthew 6:33 is really the driving passion of my heart, my wants will never be driven by selfishness or the pursuit of ease. My desires will be His Kingdom, His Purpose, and Him. Whatever moves Him will move me. Whatever breaks His heart will break mine.
The Why will reveal Who Jesus is to us and in us. Why do I want things? Why do I want advancement? Why do I want healing? Why do I want His presence? Why do I want His power? Why? What is my motive? Don’t get religious. Get real, Why?
It is self-examination time; if done with an open, exposed heart, it brings total release! So, What do we want Jesus to do for us and Why? I have found that some of my (What) had a wrong (Why), and I’m seeking to allow the Holy Spirit to sync my What and Why with His heart.
The question of Jesus in Matthew 16:13 is key: “Who do you say I Am?”
Today is your day of release! Rejoice in the LORD!
Are We Heartbreakers?
Jeremiah 13:17 – “But if you will not listen to it, My soul will sob in secret for such pride; and my eyes will bitterly weep and flow down with tears, because the flock of the Lord has been taken captive.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I heard something again that shook me. Jeremiah 13:17 was a reminder of how our sin, rejection, and rebellion affect God. “My soul will SOB in secret… My eyes will BITTERLY weep…” Our disobedience breaks God’s heart but not ours. That is tragic and dangerous.
How does sin affect us? Many, if not most, treat it lightly. If we truly considered the warning in Matthew 7:13-29, we would be crumpled in a repentant heap when we sin. If we could hear God weeping when we sin, sin would become so vile to us that we would avoid it at all costs.
In Matthew 7, we discover that it is not what we claim or identify as, but the fruit produced in our lives that reveals our true condition. God does not and cannot wink at sin. Claiming to be a Christian is not the same as having a surrendered heart.
A truth we often overlook is judgment. We forget that the measure or standard we use in judging others is the measure or standard God uses in judging us. When I consider the Cross, I understand why sin breaks God’s heart. When I consider the Cross, I understand total commitment. When I consider the Cross, I comprehend the boundlessness of Love!
The proof of my condition is revealed in the fruit of my life. It is undeniable evidence. Ignoring the fruit is to live deceived and doom ourselves to the danger of eternal rejection.
Matthew 7:21-23 demands careful consideration. Just calling ourselves Christians does not make us Christians. Doing exploits in the name of Jesus is superficial if He does not have our whole heart.
Proverbs declares a needed reminder, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
I am asking God to break our hearts over sin. Let us hear God cry.
LORD, break our hearts and help us not be guilty of breaking YOURS!
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