1 John 3:19-20 - Doubting hearts

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:19-20

This was a confusing passage for me. And when I come to a confusing passage I usually check with commentaries to find some clarity. Even one of the commentaries said, "A very difficult passage." I liked this summary best:

The force of 1 John 3:19-20 may be thus summed up: ‘By loving our brethren in deed and truth we come to know that we are God’s children and have His presence within us, and are enabled to meet the disquieting charges of conscience. For, if conscience condemns us, its verdict is neither infallible nor final. We may still appeal to the omniscient God, whose love implanted within us is a sign that we are not condemned and rejected by Him.’ (Link)

So, most of 1 John shows us what a Christian is like and not like. This passage assures us that even though sometimes our heart makes us think, "I am no good, I'm not worthy to be a part of God's family," the truth is that out hearts are not very reliable and God is more powerful than our heart. If we have given our lives to Christ and live like we belong to that truth, we are part of God's family regardless of the doubts of our heart.

Lord, Thank you for giving us clear instruction about how to live as your children. Please help us to overcome the doubts of our heart. Amen.

Galatians 6:15 - New Life 2

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Sometimes what we see is not what is important. Some of the Jews in the formation of the new church thought the new Christians had to follow Jewish laws concerning circumcision, but what is truly important is in the heart, that which is unseen. What we see is not always true.

Which reminds me of a story...

“Has your son decided what he wants to be when he grows up?” I asked my friend.

“He wants to be a garbageman,” he replied.

“That’s an unusual ambition to have at such a young age.”

“Not really. He thinks that garbagemen work only on Tuesdays.”

Lord, thank you for looking at our insides, not our outsides. Please help us to look beyond what we see when looking at others. Amen.

Psalm 119:11 - Your word

I have hidden your word in my heart
     that I might not sin against you.

Today is national Wear Red Day for Heart disease awareness, so this is why I chose a verse with "heart" in it, but this section of Psalm 119 is about studying the word. By studying the word, this is how we know what God wants. This is the way we learn obedience and to be a person after God's own heart.

Lord, thank you for teaching us how to reduce our sin and be more obedient. Please help us to stay in your word and keep it in our hearts. Amen.

Matthew 23:25-28 - Bible Study Challenge Day 4

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.  “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Question 1 - How are we guilty of only cleaning the outside* of the cup?
We look the part of Christians and we want others to think well of us, Our body/actions project one image and our minds maybe another. We may have hidden sin we don't want anyone to know about. Maybe we focus on "Checklist Christianity" and do all the right things, but we have not allowed God to really pierce our heart.

Question 2 - Where do we show greed and self-indulgence?
Too much of too much...food, money, stuff, coffee, business, work, co-dependency on others, drugs, alcohol, etc... We focus on what "I want." This is dangerous because we can argue and convince ourselves anything is OK. Moderation is the key.

Question 3 - How can we be righteous inside and out?
The scripture says, "First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." If we are focusing on God and allowing the spirit to work in our hearts and minds, then we won't have to worry about our appearance to others. We will look like a Christian because we are a Christian.

Lord, thank you for helping us to evaluate ourselves. Please keep our minds focused on you and your will, so that your spirit can impact our heart and mind, Amen.

*I think the author meant outside, not inside.

Psalm 95:7-8 - Hear his voice

Today, if only you would hear his voice,
     “Do not harden your hearts

I believe hearing God is essential. Before you even begin your walk with God, he will draw you to him, if you will only listen with your heart. While you are on our spiritual journey, he continues to guide you, you just have to open his word and your mind. As a Christian, you are instructed by his word and through the meditation of your heart-being still and hearing his voice.

Lord, thank you for speaking to us. Please help us to hear your voice. Amen

Psalm 62:8 - I Trust You God

Trust in him at all times, you people;
     pour out your hearts to him,
     for God is our refuge.

Sometimes my mind just races 1000 miles an hour. It seems impossible to sit quietly and focus on God. Sometimes I am anxious about something and can't seem to focus on anything else. A wise teacher once told me to use a mantra. For me he chose, "I trust you God." In those moments when my mind is racing, I just repeat this over and over in my head. God is my refuge!

Lord, thank you for being our refuge. Please help us to trust you at all times. Amen.

Psalm 26:2 - Test me

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

Wow. That is a bold thing to ask. "Test me, Lord." I don't think I have ever asked God to test me. Usually I am asking for peace and comfort. The purpose of a test is to check our knowledge and understanding, to confirm we have learned the lessons presented to us. It also shows us where we are weak and need to improve. I feel pretty mature and strong in my faith. Is it time for a test?

Lord, thank you for bringing me to my current level of faith. Please test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind. Amen.

Psalm 24:9 - Open up

Lift up your heads, you gates;
     lift them up, you ancient doors,
     that the King of glory may come in.

I really like the imagery in this verse. This verse reminds us that God is sovereign over everything, even the doors. He has limitless dominion. It also reminds us we must all open the door of our hearts and allow God to come in.

Lord, thank you for the beautiful images in your scripture. Please help us to remember you reign supreme and we must allow you into our hearts. Amen.

Psalm 4:4 - Search your hearts

Tremble and do not sin;
     when you are on your beds,
     search your hearts and be silent.

Chapter 4 begins by asking God to hear and answer prayer. It ends remarking on peace and safety from God. My thought is that this psalm was written while David was in bed. When we are in bed we are either at peace and relaxed or we are tormented by thought. This passage covers both scenarios. Either way, it gives us an opportunity to search our hearts and be silent.

Lord, thank you for the quiet of of the night when we can come to you in prayer. Please hear our prayers and help us to search our hearts. Amen.

Joel 2:13 - Tear your heart

Rend your heart
     and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
     for he is gracious and compassionate,
     slow to anger and abounding in love,
     and he relents from sending calamity.

I love the phrase "Rend you heart and not your garments." It really struck me. I looked up the word rend and it means to tear. When we repent, outward signs of mourning and sorrow are not what God is looking for. He wants us to be torn on the inside, to tear out the past and the sin, to tear our heart.

Lord, thank you for wanting us to return to you and not just giving up on us. Please help us to have a true tearing of the heart when we return to you. Amen.

Exodus 25:8-9 - Where does God live?

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

Where does God live? We usually say in heaven, but he lives in other places as well. In Exodus, God gives very detailed instructions about how to build a tabernacle. At this time, God dwelt with his people in this sanctuary he had them build. This was part of the instructions for the Jews. Today, If we are a Christian, God lives in us, in our hearts. (John 14:17, Ephesians 2:22) When I pray, I don't think about God being in some far off place, I think about him being right here inside of me, ready to listen.

Lord, thank you for coming to live in our hearts. Please help us to remember that you are living inside of us and to allow your light to shine out from us. Amen.

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