"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" I was reading the terrible news about Haiti and thought, hopefully there will be something in today's readings that will uplift me, fit what is happening right now. And I read those lines in Psalms, and thought, surely thousands could be feeling this way today. My heart is breaking for their suffering, and the children, and the parents, and all those who have died or are injured. It really took my breath away, and looking down at my own little son, one years old, and what I would do if I lost him or he lost me. I know God is with them in Haiti right now, and will help heal hearts and souls. I am praying for their Country today and I know reading the Bible every day now, thanks to this site, is helping me to remember to pray, and think of others more than myself.
Jesus is all about the heart. The inward motives. He came to show his people that our hearts are what make us sick. We can not be made clean by washing our hands and sweeping our floors. We can not be made clean by simply obeying the law. Our hearts need transformation.
"but what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person."
Jesus continues to upset the Pharisees because he is calling them to account for their hearts. Deeper than following a written set of rules.
Tonight I felt like I could relate with the Pharisees. See... when someone calls me out on heart issues. My first response is usually judgment pointed back at them. Or a massive defensive wall is erected through a flood of inconsiderate words toward that person. It usually takes me a second glance at the situation to understand that my heart was not in the right place.
Jesus new the Pharisees hearts were not in a place to receive correction.
"This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Lord let my heart be close to your words and your truth. Let me be slow to speak and quick to listen. That I may humbly receive your correction and that by your mercy and grace would be purified by the blood of Christ, to be made Holy as He is Holy. That by your Spirit my heart would flee from such things as evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I feel like I am understanding more and thus getting more out of it. I can't believe how much it is already changing my life. I feel like I'm getting extra amounts of grace. I know that's not true but I think I can recognize it now.
So very true Chris....those passages hit me the most today. "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' I can't put into words the impact this chapter in Matthew is having on me, but it is an amazing reminder of how our lives so easily can reflect the world rather than Christ, and my mouth needs prayer. Lord let my heart be transformed so my mouth may speak your truth!
these scriptures are very powerful and i really believe we must be reminded alot so the guard can be at our mouths..when i think of the people that have influenced me the most in my life it is the ones that were soft spoken..thought more of others than themselves..no self promotion..humbly walking with their God..Lord Jesus please let kindness and grace be wrapped around me today..let me be quick to pray..slow to speak..lay the mantle of Your love on me..i want to glorify YOU in all that i do..i love you Jesus and am grateful for all You do.
This made me super aware of how and what I pray too. Not just asking and complaining, not couching my judgement and upset feelings about people in prayer for them...I needed this chapter far more than I thought.
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"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?" I was reading the terrible news about Haiti and thought, hopefully there will be something in today's readings that will uplift me, fit what is happening right now. And I read those lines in Psalms, and thought, surely thousands could be feeling this way today. My heart is breaking for their suffering, and the children, and the parents, and all those who have died or are injured. It really took my breath away, and looking down at my own little son, one years old, and what I would do if I lost him or he lost me. I know God is with them in Haiti right now, and will help heal hearts and souls. I am praying for their Country today and I know reading the Bible every day now, thanks to this site, is helping me to remember to pray, and think of others more than myself.
Jesus is all about the heart. The inward motives. He came to show his people that our hearts are what make us sick. We can not be made clean by washing our hands and sweeping our floors. We can not be made clean by simply obeying the law. Our hearts need transformation.
"but what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person."
Jesus continues to upset the Pharisees because he is calling them to account for their hearts. Deeper than following a written set of rules.
Tonight I felt like I could relate with the Pharisees. See... when someone calls me out on heart issues. My first response is usually judgment pointed back at them. Or a massive defensive wall is erected through a flood of inconsiderate words toward that person. It usually takes me a second glance at the situation to understand that my heart was not in the right place.
Jesus new the Pharisees hearts were not in a place to receive correction.
"This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Lord let my heart be close to your words and your truth. Let me be slow to speak and quick to listen. That I may humbly receive your correction and that by your mercy and grace would be purified by the blood of Christ, to be made Holy as He is Holy. That by your Spirit my heart would flee from such things as evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Amen
I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I feel like I am understanding more and thus getting more out of it. I can't believe how much it is already changing my life. I feel like I'm getting extra amounts of grace. I know that's not true but I think I can recognize it now.
So very true Chris....those passages hit me the most today. "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'
I can't put into words the impact this chapter in Matthew is having on me, but it is an amazing reminder of how our lives so easily can reflect the world rather than Christ, and my mouth needs prayer. Lord let my heart be transformed so my mouth may speak your truth!
these scriptures are very powerful and i really believe we must be reminded alot so the guard can be at our mouths..when i think of the people that have influenced me the most in my life it is the ones that were soft spoken..thought more of others than themselves..no self promotion..humbly walking with their God..Lord Jesus please let kindness and grace be wrapped around me today..let me be quick to pray..slow to speak..lay the mantle of Your love on me..i want to glorify YOU in all that i do..i love you Jesus and am grateful for all You do.
This made me super aware of how and what I pray too. Not just asking and complaining, not couching my judgement and upset feelings about people in prayer for them...I needed this chapter far more than I thought.
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