Proverbs 21: 2, 3:
"2 All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."
That's right, folks. In our own opinion, we're making good decisions. . .but are we honestly listening to God and what He desires? A couple of weeks ago in a Beth Moore video Beth was talking about how sometimes, a person steps out in faith, but has heard a garbled, incomplete message. The point was, stepping out is so important. . .if done for the right reasons.
So, what I am getting at is this: no matter what you do or someone else does, GOD is the one who judges the heart. Sometimes we look at those people we see as being "good Christians" and we think that their actions are always perfect. . .and sometimes we see things that look really sketchy to us from an outsiders perspective.
James 4:11, 12:
"11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"
In addition to thinking about God knowing our hearts and judging us, there's something else we can use to get a peek into our own thoughts. . .pure? Look into the only truth we have while we're still here, missing Jesus.
Heb. 4: 12, 13:
"12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Since God's Word is alive and active in us (woot, Believing God!), the Word (God's precious, perfect law) judges our actions.
Ps. 119:29:
"Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law."
Oh, sweet Word, sweet God, wonderful Savior, please let me hold fast to the Truth You've given to us.
Jer. 17:9:
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
We can't understand our hearts, but God keeps us in check. Even though we deceive ourselves, try to judge our own works, and try to judge the works of others, there is hope; GREAT HOPE!
Rom. 5:15-21:
"15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
<><><
No comments:
Post a Comment