Heart Store

Heart Store
Revelation 3: ¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
 
“This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created. ¹⁵ I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth! ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich and well off; I have all I need.’ But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. ¹⁸ I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see. ¹⁹ I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins. ²⁰ Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. ²¹ To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne.
 
²² “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!”

 

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Looking at the weather, I decided to miss going to the group. It was raining that day. The next time to meet it was too nice to be sitting around with a group so I missed it to continue to enjoy the nice weather. “Do you want to come over and watch the game?” was the statement that easily took me away from going to the group the next time.

 

• I was not vested in the group.
• I was not for the group or against the group.
• I figured the group would be alright because there were a lot of people, so they would not miss me.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, quoted JESUS when writing about Laodicea. This stern warning was about lukewarmness. At one point Laodicea was on fire. But along the way, they became proud of their size, programs and human success. JESUS rebuked their human wealth and told them to exchange it for HIS wealth.

 

My Observations:

• GOD sees my heart and wants it to be rich with HIS love.
• GOD wants to come into my heart so I cannot have it filled with the lust of the world.
• What is valuable to GOD should be valuable to me.

 

I may get what I want but not want what I get. I mean, GOD seems gracious enough to me to allow me to get things I want that are not good for me. This strange love can be costly to me. If I choose to brag and boast about what “I” have accomplished and label it as GOD, HE could be upset at what seems to be “success.”

 

GOD wants me to check to see if I have fallen each day. HE corrects me when I stay and humbles me when I boast. GOD is willing to heal me when I ask HIM into my heart.

 

Challenge

• Why does JESUS seem to focus on money?
• Have you tried to measure GOD’s success by human wealth standards?
• Will you allow GOD into your heart so HE can correct any wrong and guide you to win the victory?

Caught in the Middle

 

Caught in the Middle

Romans 6: ¹⁷ But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received. ¹⁸ You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. ¹⁹ (I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes.

 

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“Yes” I said emphatically to one person who had a very strong opinion. I was neutral, but wanted to make her feel better by agreeing. A person with an opposing opinion asked me to agree with opposite side of the argument. I said “Yes” emphatically, wanting to treat him the same. One day they both tried to drag me into their argument. I was in the middle of a mess.

 

There have been times when I tried to live in the middle.

There have been times when I wanted to have the best of two opposing worlds.

There have been times when I dabbled in some good things and some not so good things.

 

Paul thanks GOD for those who have chosen to listen to the teaching of the Way of JESUS. He then gave a choice. Either keep serving sin or start serving GOD for HIS purpose. There was no middle ground presented.

 

GOD wants me to choose HIM or not.

GOD wants me to seek HIM or not.

GOD wants me to be with HIM or not.

 

Lukewarm belief in GOD disgusts HIM. HE said “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” Trying to straddle the fence between being sinful and righteous is impossible in GOD’s eyes.

 

I mean, HE can help those who are disappointed with HIM because someone misrepresented HIS love and abused people, turning them against HIM. HE can also protect those who are totally for HIM, fighting along side HIM daily. HE detests those who try to justify sin and be try to be “good.” I am glad JESUS is the only one who is good and saved me anyway. I choose HIM.

 

Are you picking and choosing parts of the Bible to believe in?

Do you find some of GOD’s rules seem to be “unfair” so you refuse to follow them?

Will you surrender trying to live your life in the middle, in between sin and GOD, so you can be used for HIS purpose today?

All Taken Care of

Ezekiel 11: ¹⁹ I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. ²⁰ Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

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When the storm of life hit me again I started praying more and attending church more. When the storm subsided, so did my prayer and church attendance. I figured “GOD won’t mind.” I mean I am not doing anything “bad” I am simply too busy for church right now.

• Sometimes my heart is divided between world and GOD.
• Sometimes my heart is as hard as a rock and I cannot hear GOD.
• Sometimes my heart is not focused on following GOD because I followed HIM yesterday and that should be sufficient.

Having a divided, stony selfish heart keeps me from reaching my true destiny namely being related to GOD. Doublemindedness and lukewarm behavior are things GOD despises. HE does not want me to dwell on the fence and pander to groups who will never follow HIM. GOD wants me to be different but how can I change?

• GOD said to me “I will give you an undivided heart.”
• GOD said to me “I will remove your stony heart and give you a heart of flesh.”
• GOD said to me “I will be your GOD.”

In every one of those statements GOD said “I will.” This means I do not have to do anything but be willing to let HIM do what HE has to do. I do not have to be better than the “that” good person over there rather I need to simply allow HIM to modify my heart the way HE wants to.

Following GOD on my own is extremely hard. I mean all the reading, studying, praying and believing can be exhausting! BUT GOD makes following HIM easier when HE places HIS SPIRIT inside me. HE renews my strength daily and tells me to let HIM do the work while I watch HIM. I can truly praise HIM for who HE is.

• Do you think you need to clean yourself up?
• Do you feel obligated to “do” more for GOD instead of just “being” for GOD?
• Can you allow HIM to change you divided heart?
• Will you let GOD remove your stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh?
• Will you let HIM place a new SPIRIT in you today?

Threatening GOD

Deuteronomy 1: ²⁹ Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. ³⁰ The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will fight for you. With your own eyes you saw how he fought for you in Egypt.

³¹ “You also saw how the Lord your God brought you through the desert. He carried you everywhere you went, just as a father carries his son. And now you have arrived here.”

³² In spite of that, you didn’t trust in the Lord your God.

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For months our lives were put on hold.  Every decision was based on the possibility of moving to a new city “if” I got the top position in the company. I felt extremely nervous during the interview and did not get the position. I do remember pouting.

“LORD, what’s the purpose of being ‘good’ if nothing comes out of it? I’m done serving!” I said during my tantrum. Little did I know HE had much better things in mind for me and I was busy making HIM an enemy!

• When I have trials placed in front of me I sometimes pout.
• When I have obstacles placed in front of me I sometimes kick and scream at GOD.
• When I am not getting “my” way I sometimes throw a tantrum, threatening GOD in the process.

Like a four year old who wants to run away from home I looked around and realized, where will I go? I mean everything and everywhere and everyone is HIS. You would think I would become rational at that realization. Instead I thought, “well, YOU are GOD, of course ‘YOU’ would say don’t be terrified and don’t be afraid, but I’m human what can I do?”

• GOD says “TRUST in the LORD with all your heart in all your ways and do not lean to your own understanding.”
• GOD says “Put aside childish things” and “have faith in your GOD for I delivered you.”
• GOD says “the fear of GOD is the beginning of wisdom.”

In other words, why am I yelling at GOD for not getting my way?  GOD has a better plan that I could never dream up.  HIS ways are solid and I can be free to be “me”, not what everyone expects me to be. I don’t have to threaten HIM or coerce HIM into getting something I probably didn’t want in the first place.

GOD knows what’s best. HE wants a solid “trust” from me. I Believe!

• Do you doubt GOD?
• Are you ready to throw in the towel because life is getting difficult?
• Why do you have to be convinced over and over that GOD is faithful?
• Won’t you get rid of you pride of needing GOD to prove HIMSELF and show HIM your trust?

What have you done for ME lately?

Revelation 3: ² Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. ³ Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

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Remember when we used to lift some heavy weights we asked each other.  One friend responded “Yeah, I used to be a monster.”  I responded, “Yeah, but do you have any rehab exercises now, my shoulder hurts!” It seemed like our glory days are way in the past. I wonder if I feel like my best “service to the LORD” days are behind me too.

• Sometimes I look back on the things GOD had me do and I think I’m still doing them.
• Sometimes I try to remember how the SPIRIT moved me instead of letting the SPIRIT move me.
• Sometimes I reminisce on my glory days of serving the LORD and think HE can no longer use me.

“I remember when” are the words that came to mind when it came to looking at my service to the LORD.  I don’t mean “when is the last time I went to church” I mean when is the last time I had fire in me that just jumped out of me? When is the last time I couldn't hold my tongue and I could not help doing something bold for CHRIST?

Sadly my service had boiled down to mere rhetoric. What should I do?

• JESUS says “Wake up!” Stop looking at others and start looking inside.
• JESUS says “Strengthen what little remains” by loving others and serving boldly without feeling defeated!
• JESUS says “Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly” revisiting when I first began my walk with HIM and stop doubting HIS love!
• JESUS says “Repent and turn to ME again” and stop looking at the news and current circumstances and watch MY power!

In my mind I had become a superhero because of the things I had done in the past. This gave me license to judge others, BUT GOD asks me a difficult question; “Do you still love ME?” “Yes” I said sheepishly. “Then feed my lambs” HE says to me calmly wanting me to focus on HIM and not anything else.

• Are you feeling like you are barely holding on to the LORD?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Are you living your life contrary to how GOD wants you to live?
• Can you turn to HIM today and recognize HE will always love you even until the end of this age?

Am I drifting away from GOD?

Acts 26: ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

 ¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

   “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

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Drifting seemed like a harmless thing to do when it came to this “GOD” stuff.  I mean everyone else seemed to be living full lives with their drinking and sexual exploits and I wasn’t a heavy drinker and my sex was held to a minimum. Comparatively I rated myself as “pretty good.”

My drifting turned into occasional visits to church, then no visits. I drifted into “deserving” to unwind after a hard week’s work so a few of us would go to the clubs which drifted into flirting and “going out” with a woman here and there. I still rated myself as “pretty good.” I mean I wasn’t trying to harm anyone and “everybody” was doing it.

• Drifting away from listening to GOD leads me into places “I” think are harmless but they are truly harmful to me.
• Drifting away from listening to GOD makes me assess myself as “pretty good” comparatively but I fail to take the time to admit I need HIM.
• Drifting away from listening to GOD puts me in a place where it requires HIS correction.

GOD wants a “hot” or “cold” person to work with and my drifting had put me in a “lukewarm” state which is impossible to change. What I mean is I thought I was “pretty good” and therefore needed no improvement yet I was “harmlessly” drifting little by little away from HIM.

After a while I was producing no fruit for HIS kingdom and found myself “needy” on occasion. I would scurry to pray to GOD when I needed HIM and would go back to living without HIM expecting everything to go well for me. GOD said HE wanted something different.

• GOD wants a full relationship with me, not one where I try holding onto my life.
• GOD wants my full attention, not distracted or chasing things that are against HIS will.
• GOD wants me to stand with HIM, not fold into the world and fight against HIM.

“Wait a minute… how am I fighting GOD?” you ask. The war inside of me starts where I am told by GOD to live for HIM in order to spread HIS message yet I choose to live the way I want to live. The only “drifting” I need to do is drift towards HIM not away.

• Do you find yourself drifting away from GOD?
• Has your time with HIM minimized because of school, work or a relationship?
• When is the last time you have produced “fruit” in “your” life?
• Are you purposefully living your life for GOD?