Category: Open Your Eyes

Do We Have a Forked Tongue?

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
Photo by Dylan R on Pexels.com

Christianity has a bad reputation. The world sees us as self-righteous hypocrites. And for the most part, they are not wrong. We may say, “Not me,” but the truth is we’re all guilty of contributing to the picture we present to the world.

My last blog was about the need to get off the fence between the world and God. We can no longer walk that fence. God is shaking the world. We will land on one side or the other. It’s better to jump into God’s arms than to fall into Satan’s dominion. Some Christians have chosen God’s side, but most teeter between both, wanting both, trying to compromise into believing they can have some of both. It’s a lie. God made it clear. It’s Him or the world. No middle ground.

Today I write to those who claim to have chosen God’s side.

A forked tongue symbolizes deceit, hypocrisy, and dishonesty, a meaning rooted in the biblical depiction of the serpent and later adopted into the idiom “to speak with a forked tongue”.  Speaking with a forked tongue refers to someone who says one thing but means another. We can also “speak with a forked tongue” with our lives. We can proclaim one thing but live another.

Paul wrote a lot about hypocrisy in the churches.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:2-5

I know he was talking about people in the churches because Paul wrote this to the Corinthians.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

How much of Paul’s observations can be said of professing Christians today?

Before we say, “Not me”, let me ask some questions.

Do we speak truth at all times – or do we justify lies and deception at convenient times? Even little white lies?

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. Psalm 12:2

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25

Do we praise God with our tongue – and speak evil of other people, no matter how justified we feel it is, with the same tongue?

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. James 3:9

Do we spread the gospel with our mouth – and also allow profanity and the degradation of other people to come out of the same mouth?

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Do we give ourselves grace for making mistakes – but hold grudges against those who have wronged us?

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18

Do we sing “I surrender all” to God on Sunday – then spend the week fighting for what we want or think we deserve?

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:1-3

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. James 3:16

Do we treat people who look or think like us differently than we treat people who don’t look or think like us?

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” John 7:24

Do we claim to be spreading the Gospel – but spend most of our time discussing and arguing over non-salvation issues?

Nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 1 Timothy 1:4-7

Do we spend more time thinking on the things of God – or are our thoughts consumed with the things of the world?

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3

Do we pray first or is prayer our last resort?

Pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18

Do we admonish fellow Christians when they repeatedly engage in a sin – or do we tolerate it in the name of ‘free choice’?

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:20

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1

Do we hold firm to God’s Truth – or do we accept everyone’s idea of truth?

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Do we live an open, honest life – or do we try to get away with a little dishonesty or deceitful manipulation to save face or to avoid getting into trouble or to feed our flesh?

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2

Do we renounce and avoid all sin – or do we justify hanging onto some?

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9

It’s time to look at ourselves honestly.

It’s time to examine our faith and to get real with our claims to be followers of Christ.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12

It’s time to clean up the church, starting with ourselves, before God does it.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31

It’s time to get rid of our split tongues and show the world who Jesus really is.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Get Off the Fence

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Many of us Christians are walking a spiritual fence.

We walk the fence when we are not one hundred percent convinced that God is God. We are torn between believing what the Bible says and what the world says.

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.  (2 Kings 18:21)

We walk the fence when we are lukewarm in our faith.  We may love God, but we equally love the world. We are not on fire for either side. Love for God keeps us from fully entering the world and love for the world keeps us from fully committing ourselves to God.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

We walk the fence when we want it all. We want the blessings, protection, and love that God offers, and we also want all the pleasures and self-rule the world offers.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  (2 Timothy 3:3-5)

We walk the fence when we are delusional or misinformed. Maybe we think God doesn’t see us or that He won’t hold us accountable for our decisions. Maybe we think a loving God wouldn’t send anyone to hell, or maybe we think hell doesn’t exist at all. Maybe we think God is a cruel tyrant who loves to kill and not worthy of our full devotion.  Maybe we base our beliefs about God on the behavior of those who claim to follow Him. Or maybe we base our faith on ‘once saved always saved’.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (1 Timothy 4:3)

We may have just gotten on the fence, or we may have been walking it for years. We may even get up and down depending on circumstances.

But walking the fence for any length of time is dangerous.

If we are not committed to one side or the other or if we are lukewarm about our faith, we are in danger of the deception Satan is unleashing on the world today.  We can be easily fooled by the half-truths and shows of power Satan uses. And once he has us fooled, it’s not too hard to lead us to the wide gate where we will have plenty of company making that entrance seem the right way.

 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many.” (Matthew 7:13)

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9)

If we are lukewarm, we are also in danger of being rejected by Jesus.

So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

If we want it all, we are in danger of losing salvation. We say we are Christ-followers, but we pick and choose which of His ways we will follow, rationalizing why we reject the rest. We sing about living holy lives on Sunday, then lie, cheat, and spread hate the rest of the week. We say we love God, but we hate those who are different than us and we support the things He hates.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (Titus 1:16)

There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer  or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this. (Deut 18:10-14)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

If we are delusional or misinformed, we are in danger of judgment.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:29)

The Israelites frequently walked the fence. They wanted what God offered, sacrificing to Him and declaring Him LORD, but they also wanted what the other nation’s gods were said to offer and made sacrifices to them. (2 Kings 17:41)

It didn’t end well for them.

And, according to the Bible, it’s not going to end well for the multitude of people who choose the world.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

It’s time to get off the fence.

It’s time to decide if we want God or the world. And by the world, I mean Satan, who is currently the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

It’s time to decide, with eyes fully open, who we will worship and serve: The Most High God who created and loves us or Satan who is out to destroy us.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

It’s time to get off the fence.

Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, and the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Open Your Eyes – He Is Who He Is ( Bonus Allegory Included)

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Susan stopped typing and stared at her brother as he pulled a can of paint out of a plastic bag and set it down on the desk next to hers with a loud thump. “Sammy, what are you doing?”

 “I’m going to paint my desk.” He pulled out a brush and can opener from the bag.

“I don’t think the boss will like that.”

Sammy shrugged. “I don’t care. He’s not my boss.”

“What do you mean he’s not your boss?” Susan turned to face him.” He’s in charge of everyone who works here.”  

“I don’t think he’s worth all the allegiance people give him.” Sammy began to empty his desk into the plastic bag.

“What do you have against him?”

 “Several things. First, he’s cruel and unreasonable, like when he fired Gary, Frank, and Jill for nothing.”  Sammy scooped the last of the loose papers and pens into the bag, and then carefully picked up his computer monitor and headed for the back counter.

Susan followed him with her eyes. “Your friends were stealing from him and bullying the others in their department.”

Setting the monitor and bag down, he returned to his cleared off desk. “No, they weren’t. They were just doing what they thought was best to make the department a better place, including using office funds to pay for gym memberships and nicer clothes . Everyone knows that looking and feeling better leads to more productivity. The people objecting were just making trouble, which my friends dealt with for the betterment of everyone else.”

Susan’s eyebrows shot upwards. “Really? That’s how you see it?”

“It’s the truth.” Sammy declared, prying open the can of paint. “Second, he has way too many rules. Why can’t I do whatever I want as long as I’m not hurting anyone?”

“It’s not just hurting others. It’s hurting yourself, too. He knows what’s best for you.” Susan’s voice rose in pitch. “You’re not really going to paint your desk yellow, are you? It’s not your desk. The boss owns it along with everything else in here.”

“You’re just repeating what the memo said. And yes, I really am going to paint my desk yellow. It’s what I like. It makes me feel good.” He dipped the brush into the paint and began swiping it across his desk. “How do we know the memos even came from him? We’ve never seen him or heard him. Anybody could have written them.”

“Some people have heard him.” She nodded towards the desk on the other side of hers. “Mindy has.”

“That’s what she says. I doubt it. If he really did call her, why hasn’t he called the rest of us?”

“Have you checked you phone? Maybe he has.”

“Are you kidding me? He doesn’t care about anything except himself.” Paint splattered across the floor as Sammy slapped his fully-loaded brush down hard. “And I don’t like that he is unjust and cruel.”

“Even if what you say is true, it doesn’t change the fact that he is the boss. Your feelings – your beliefs – about him don’t change who he is or his authority over us as long as we are here in his building.”

“That’s your opinion. I can do whatever I want and I will not accept an invisible boss who forces us to submit to him.”

“So, you’re leaving?”

“No, I like this building. I’m just going to do what I want in it.” Sammy wiped his yellow hands on his pants. “I’m smart enough to make my own decisions.”

———————————————————————————————————————————–

The above conversation might seem silly.  But a similar conversation is being held all across our country every day. Only, instead of being about a boss, it’s about the Boss.

It’s puzzling to me to hear people say they won’t accept God because of what He did or what He commanded the Israelites to do in the Old Testament.

They may not understand why God did the things He did.

They may not like it.

It may not line up with their sense of morality.

But it doesn’t change the fact that God is God.

There is no other Supreme God to choose from.

There is no other Creator of all things.

 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (He established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the LORD, and there is no other. Is 45:18

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Rev 4:11

It’s even more puzzling to hear people say they love, serve, and honor Jesus as God, but reject the God of the Old Testament.

Do they think there are two Gods? Or do they think Jesus is God 2.0?

God is God whether the invisible Father or the God-made-visible Son.  

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. Col 1:15-16

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb 13:8

Would they reject Jesus if they reread the Old Testament inserting the name Jesus in the place of LORD God?

I think we sometimes forget that we didn’t create God or install Him as God.

He is God because  THAT   IS   WHO   HE   IS.  Period.

Why do we think our brains are big enough to comprehend Him? Why do we think we get to say what God should be like?

Whether or not we agree with Him doesn’t change who He is.

Whether or not we like what He did in the Old Testament doesn’t change who He is.

Whether or not we understand His rules and ways doesn’t change who He is.

Whether or not we choose to worship Him doesn’t change who He is.

Everyone worships something because we were created to worship. Look at all the religions around the world. One thing they all have in common is worship. What and how they worship differs vastly, but they all worship what makes sense to them.

And that’s the problem.  We worship what we choose according to what we reason out with our small, finite minds. Or we worship what others tell us to worship. Even Christians. I would estimate that only a small percentage of those who call themselves Christians actually worship and serve their Creator. 

And the LORD said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men. Isa 29:13

If we don’t worship or serve Him, who or what do we worship and serve?

Nature, power, sex, celebrities, political parties, woke-ism, social justice, good works, ministry, climate control, saints, religion, family – the list could go on forever.

But I think many people spend their lives serving the god of self. Life is all about what they want, what they think, what they prefer. They may clothe it with the worship of something else, but deep down, they are the ones sitting on the throne in their hearts.

Bottom line – God doesn’t have to make Himself worthy of our worship. He doesn’t have to conform to our thinking. He is God because He made all things.  Let’s not pretend He doesn’t exist because we don’t like who we think He is or we prefer a different god. Let’s not recreate God in our image. Instead, let’s bow before Him and acknowledge Him for who He is as He is. Sooner or later everyone will.

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11

Open Your Eyes – Lord; An Allegory

On By LindaIn Open Your Eyes2 Comments
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Darlene sighed as she straightened. “There,” she said, “The weeds are gone.”

Brandi looked around. “There’s still so much to do. I wonder why the lady let her yard get so bad. Good thing you decided to help her.”

Darlene brushed the dirt off her jacket. “Well, Mr. Evans asked me to so here I am. I’m going to go ask what he wants me to do next.”

Brandi pointed. “I don’t know Mr. Evans but I’m happy to help out. I’ll trim those bushes. I don’t know if spring is the right season, but it’s easier to trim the branches before the leaves start growing. “

“He didn’t say anything about the bushes but I guess it’s okay. It does need to be done.” Darlene opened the back gate. “Be back soon.”

Brandi put on a pair of gloves and picked up the shears just as a man walked through the back gate. He waved when he saw her and headed in her direction.

“Hi, Seth! You made it!”

Seth nodded, “I couldn’t let my friend do all this by herself, could I?” He looked around. “You’re not kidding. This place is a mess.”

“Darlene said that Mr. Evans said it needed to be cleaned up. I pulled the weeds and am about to trim the bushes.”

“I think the patio needs to be hosed and scrubbed, too. I’ll go do that.”

“Good idea.” Brandi walked to the side fence and began snipping the bush branches while Seth found a broom in the shed and began sweeping.

By the time Darlene returned, the bushes were trimmed, the patio clean, the raised garden bed filled with compost and topsoil, and the leaves raked.

“Wow,” Darlene called to the two friends. “You’ve done so much!”

“Where have you been?” Brandi asked. “I thought you were just going to ask Mr. Evans what to do next.”

“I did ask him. He told me to help the people in the front yard first. They were planting a tree and needed another set of hands. And then to come back here and check for dog poop.”  She walked to the shed. “There’s supposed to be a poop-scooper in here.”

“Ew,” Brandi held her nose. “You can have that job. I’m going to clean the patio furniture.” She called to Seth, “Did you happen to see a bucket and some rags in the shed when you were in there?”

“Yes, the rags are on the shelf and there’s a bucket next to the door.”

The clanging of a dinner bell stopped all three helpers.

“Yay!” Darlene cheered. “Time for lunch!” She headed for the back door.

“I’m starving!” Brandi said as she joined Darlene.

“Me, too.!” Seth echoed as he joined the girls.

The back door opened just as they got there.

Mr. Evans motioned to Darlene. “Come and get it! The barbeque chicken is hot on the stove and there are fresh rolls from the oven.”

Darlene grinned and entered the house. Seth and Brandi tried to follow but Mr. Evans stopped them.

“Sorry, but this is for friends and family only.”

“But we helped out! Didn’t we trim the bushes, pull weeds, clean the patio and rake the leaves?”

Mr. Evans shook his head. “I don’t know you. ” He pointed to the back gate .”You’ll need to leave.” Then he went inside, closing the door firmly behind him.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who des the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never know you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23

When I read Matthew 7:21-23, I’m struck by two things. One is that Jesus told these people who did things in His name that He never knew them. The other is that He attached the word ‘many’ to that. Does that mean many church-going Christians are not going to make it into the kingdom of heaven? That thought is sobering.

Doing things in the name of Jesus is not the same thing as making Him Lord of your life. You can go to church, sign up for mission trips, help out in community outreach programs, and take food to the homebound without submitting yourself to His Lordship. Without this submission, all you have is religion. Religion does not get you into heaven. Only Jesus can do that – and only when you’ve made Him your Lord and Savior.

Lord AND Savior, not Lord OR Savior.

Making Him Lord is not reciting a certain prayer or just calling Him Lord. Making Him Lord means to give yourself to Him heart, soul and body. You put yourself under His Lordship. You don’t live for yourself anymore – you live for Him. You give up what you want to do and do what He tells you to do.

Have you done that? Does Jesus know you?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

Open Your Eyes – What Would Jesus Do?

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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WWJD. It used to be a big thing years ago, but I still see it around today.

To know what Jesus would do in any situation, we first need to know who Jesus is and what He did when He was here on Earth.

Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth for a time. He is God in human form (Philippians 2:8). He created everything – including us (John 1:1-3). He is sovereign over all (Eph 1:20-21). Seeing Jesus is seeing the Father (John 14:9a).

Jesus loves people. He loves us so much that He died for us in order to restore our relationship with the Father (Romans 5:10-11). This shows that love means value. He values us enough to pay the painful price for our sins.

Contrary to many popular declarations, Jesus did not come here to love us as it is defined today. He didn’t walk around accepting and supporting everyone and their behaviors and choices. He was clear that sin led to death (Matt 18:8-9). He got quite angry at some of the choices people made such as hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-36), greed and irreverence (Mark 11:15-17) and leading others to sin (Luke 17:1-2).

 “But He ate with sinners,” many people say. “He didn’t judge them.” It is true that He ate with sinners, but not to show His acceptance or support of their sin. He ate with them to call them to repentance (Matt 5:30-32). In fact, His ministry revolved around calling people to repentance (Matthew 4:17). He even sent out His disciples to call other towns to repentance (Mark 6:12). As He preached and taught Jesus healed and delivered and fed people who came to Him, but always with the same message. He told the woman caught in adultery to sin no more (John 8:11). He told the crippled man that He healed the same thing (John 5:14).

He helped many people but not everyone. He didn’t help the widow who gave her last coins (Mark 12:42-44). He didn’t help non-Jews (Luke 15:24). Even with the Jews, the Bible often used the word ‘many’ instead of ‘all’. When asked one time, He said He only did what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19). He also didn’t help/heal everyone the same way and He didn’t feed every crowd.

When Jesus returns, He will not be coming as a meek and mild baby. He will not be forgiving and calling us to repentance. He is coming back with fire in His eyes to judge the world. He is angry and will be exacting vengeance on those who have continued in their sinful choices (Rev 19:12a, 15).

So what would Jesus do in today’s society?

He would spend His time calling people to repentance and teaching about the kingdom of heaven.

He would value people but not accept and support every lifestyle and choice. He would point out the danger of sin and warn of its penalty while enjoying time with them as people created in God’s image.

He would spend time with most people, not avoid them. Most because religious hypocrisy and leading others to sin were exceptions. He wouldn’t spend time with them but would call them out on their behavior.

He would help people but only as the Father led Him. His first criteria would be to seek His Father’s will, and then treat each person as an individual.

He would pray. A lot. His relationship with the Father would come before everything else. And it was through of His relationship with His Father that He could do everything else.

Now the question becomes WWYD – What Will You Do?

Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

Eph 1:20-21 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

John 14:9a Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

Romans 5:10-11 For if while we were still enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Matt 18:8-9 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Mark 11:15-17 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

Luke 17:1-2 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Matt 5:30-32  And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 6:12 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

John 8:11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither to I condemn you; go, and from now on sin nor more.”

John 5:14  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”

Mark 12:42-44 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all  those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Luke 15:24  He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

Rev 19:12a, 15 His eyes are like a flame of fire… From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Open Your Eyes – Love is Love

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Love is love.

This popular claim sounds nice, but how accurate is it?  I might marry my friend because I love him, but I wouldn’t marry a candy bar because I love chocolate. I love my puppy is not the same as I love my job. 

My guess is that the word love is limited to the love between two people. And not just any love, such as the love between a parent and child. Based on when and how it is used, people who use this have defined love as the intimate relationship, usually but not always, between two adults. This includes straight, gay, trans, and other types of people-people relationships. It doesn’t matter who the love partner is because love is love.

Is that Biblical? I did a quick search of the New Testament and found many verses about love. Most of them connected love to God in some way. But none said “love is love” or suggested a person could have an intimate relationship with just anyone.

The true definition of love is connected to God because God is love (1 John 4:16).

Therefore He’s the only one who can define what intimate love is and isn’t. According to His Word, intimate love is to be between a man and a woman who are married (1 Cor 7:2). This life-long relationship (Gen 2:24) is to be honored by everyone (Heb 13:4), and all sex outside of it is to be avoided (1Cor 6:18). Jesus confirmed this when He said that a man is to hold fast to his wife (Mark 10:6-8). Man and woman. Period. Anything outside of this leads to death (Prov 14:12).

Love is love? Not for those who call themselves Christians. Unbelievers can say and do whatever they want, but when we accepted Jesus, we accepted His Lordship over us. That means doing and seeing things His way regardless of what the rest of the world says or does, or even what seems right to us (Proverbs 14:12).

Many Christians are sitting on the fence. They hear what God says, but don’t see how loving anyone could be wrong regardless of who it is.  They seem to be more concerned about offending other people than offending God. Or maybe they agree with God for their own relationships but don’t want to impose that on other Christians or warn nonbelievers because everyone has a right to what they believe. Therefore they accept and support those who love differently or give a different interpretation of God’s Word. They have bought into the love is love idea.

I believe God is shaking the world right now (Haggai 2:6-7; Amos 9:8-10; Hebrews 12:25-27).  It’s time to wake up and open our eyes. It’s time to get off the fence. Will we follow the Creator or the created? We can’t have both God’s approval and man’s approval. We can’t love both God and the world (1 John 2:15-16). Compromise is not a choice. As Christians, we must obey God over man (Acts 5:29). We must walk in His ways. But do we? Will we?

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Mark 10:6-8 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

1 John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the father but is from the world.

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Haggai 2:6-7 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

Amos 9:8-10  Behold, the eyes of the LORD GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.  All the sinners of my people will die by the sword – all those who say, “Disaster will never draw near or confront us.”

Hebrews 12:25-27  See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns us from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken – that is, things that have been made – in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

Open Your Eyes – The World

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1 John 2:15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Someone recently asked me, “If God created the world for us to enjoy, why does the Bible tell us not to love the world?” (1 John 2:15)

In Hebrew (the Old Testament) the word for world is tebel, which means moist and therefore inhabited. In Greek (the New Testament) the word for world is kosmos which means an ordered system (like universe, creation); also refers to the inhabitants of the world and to worldly affairs.

So the ‘world’ includes both the physical planet as well as those who live on it.

That leads to another question. How can God love the world (John 3:16) and yet James tell us that friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God (James 4:4)?

Many people stop when they read Scriptures like these, shake their heads in confusion, and go find something easier to understand, sometimes telling others how illogical or contradictory the Bible is.

However, the key to understanding what is meant by ‘world’ is often found in the surrounding verses. Take the verse in the opening paragraph above about not loving the world or the things of the world. The next verse in the Bible defines what John’s talking about: “For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16)

Paul said in Col 2:20-23  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations – “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used) – according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Jesus Himself told a parable about the dangers of the world in Mark 4:1-20, especially verses 18-19: And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Based on just these few Scriptures, we can see that the word ‘world’ in these contexts mean the desires of the flesh and of the eyes, pride of life, riches, money, possessions, property, cares, human precepts and teachings, and self-made religion.

In other words – sensuality, materialism, consumerism, humanism, naturalism, and religion.

In short, anything that supersedes God.

God’s first and most important commandment has been clear. He and His kingdom are to be first in our lives. Compromise is not an option. We either live by His words, His standard, His commands, His ways – or we don’t. It’s either-or. It’s a two way street. One way leads to life with Him, the other way leads to death without Him. He’s quite serious about it.

Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24:  No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money, or mammon. (In Greek, mammon is a Semitic word for money or possessions) (In Strong’s Concordance (number 3126)  Mammon in Aramaic means riches, money, possessions, property.)

Jesus said we are in the world, not of the world (John 17:14-16). That means we are living in the world with everyone else, but we are not bound by the principles of the world. In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:15-18)

He has told us to go into the world to make disciples of all who will listen (Mark 16:15). He will assign us fields to work, whether they are in politics, in churches, in education, in industries, or in groups with causes. Wherever He puts us, remember the focus is on God’s kingdom. We must remain true to God’s way such as loving without conforming to those around us. We are to be His light, sharing God’s truth, not befriending their opinions and beliefs. We are there to share the gospel, not become one of them.

We can enjoy what God created and what He gives us, but always with the knowledge that they are not an end but a means to be used to reach others for Christ and to minister to those in need, whether those needs are emotional, physical, financial, etc.

Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to show us where we’ve compromised, where we’ve adopted the mindset and behavior of the world. Let’s acknowledge and repent from where we’ve strayed into the world’s ways, and return to His way before it’s too late.

He’s not of the world. Are we?

Open Your Eyes – Truth

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Truth is important. I think we can all agree with that. We need the truth about the world in order to thrive. Believing what is not true may spoil our plans or lead us down a wrong path that may end badly, even to our deaths.

You would think truth would be a unifying force. Something we all have in common. However, it is not. I don’t think it ever has been. What divides us is how we view truth. We all use the word ‘truth’ but we are not all talking about the same thing. That becomes clear as we hear about their truth, our truth, or the truth. What’s the difference? Truth is truth, right?

Nope.

Cambridge Dictionary and other online sites define truth as:

  • that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality (the truth or objective truth)
  • that which is thought to be true by most people (our truth or general truth)
  • that which is based on someone’s personal situation or feelings (my truth or subjective truth)

All three meanings are valid and used every day. There are times when objective truth has to top the others – such as fire is hot. But there are many times when subjective truth can be used to make decisions– such as the pool is too cold to swim in.

Over the decades that I have been alive, I have watched as subjective truth slowly replaced more and more objective truth. For many in our country today, there is no objective truth. Everyone’s truth is as valid as any other truth. The root of many disagreements is when subjective truth is pushed as objective truth.

It’s time for Christians to wake up. It’s time for us to open our eyes to remember who we are and whose we are. It’s time to see what’s going on around us and to compare it to what God says.

  • Jesus said He was the truth. (John 14:6). Not a truth but the truth.
  • In John 17:17, Jesus prayed that the Father would “Sanctify them by the truth; your words are truth.” The Bible contains God’s words, i.e. truth.
  • Jesus told His disciples that His Spirit would lead them into all truth. (John 16:13a). All truth. There is no objective truth outside of God’s truth.

I don’t speak to non-Christians. They must do what they feel they must do. God alone will judge them by His standards for them.

I speak to those who call themselves Christians. We are not free to believe whatever we want. We are to believe and live the truth as God has given it to us. We are to stand up for the truth (2 Cor 13:8) as well as speak the truth to each other (Eph 4:25).

Speaking the truth got the prophets stoned and killed. Standing for the truth got the early disciples ridiculed, ostracized, rejected, persecuted, and even killed. What will it cost us? Are we willing to walk as those of centuries ago did? Or do we prefer to walk the path of least resistance with our eyes closed?

It’s time for us to choose. God or the world?

Let’s pray that God opens our eyes to the truth as revealed in His Word, and that He gives us the strength to walk in it – in a world where to speak it out can cost us everything.

John 8:32  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 16:13a However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth,

John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your words are truth.

Zech 8:16-17 These are the things you must do: speak truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.

2 Cor 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Eph 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each of one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

1 Cor 13:6 Loves does not delight in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Open Your Eyes – Tolerance

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Tolerance has changed over the 60-something years I’ve lived. Not the definition, but what it is we are to tolerate and how to do it.

When I was a teen back in the 60s and 70s, tolerance meant accepting those whose skin color was different than your own. That meant not discriminating against those from different ethnicities.

During my adult years as I was raising my children, tolerance meant accepting someone’s sexual orientation or religious views. That meant not discriminating against someone whose sexual preference was different or someone who didn’t believe the same things I did about the Bible, Jesus, or the denomination I preferred.

Today, tolerance means to not only not-discriminate against, but to promote. It seems to mean not only to let everyone do and believe whatever they want without correcting them, changing them, or judging them, but also to celebrate and support them in every way I can. That means using the language they want me to use, seeing them the way they want to be seen, and letting them act, go, do whatever they believe they need to. If I don’t play their game, if I don’t want them teaching their views as truth to my children, I’m being intolerant. I’m expected to deny my own beliefs for the sake of theirs.

If I don’t support their beliefs, I’m being intolerant. Yet, If they don’t support my beliefs, they are not being intolerant. This in itself should cause us to question what’s going on.

To be wise about tolerance, we need to know what Jesus taught us about it.

Here are two examples I’ve heard people point to as proof He was a man of tolerance.

He ate with sinners.  Did he do so because he tolerated their lifestyle choices? No, he did so to lead them to the Father, to share the gospel. (Matt 9:11, Luke 5:31)

He defended the woman caught in adultery by telling those who were ready to stone her that the one without sin was to cast the first stone.  He was defending her from hypocritical judgment. We know He didn’t tolerate her lifestyle because He told her to “sin no more”. (John 8:1)

Jesus did not come to show us how to accept everyone as they are. He came to get people to repent, to turn back to God.  (Matt 4:17) He came to restore our relationship with the Father which requires conforming to His will. In other words, we can’t do things our way and expect Him to support us.

Here are some of the things He did not tolerate while lived here on Earth.

Sin. (Matt 4:1-11, Matt 5:21-30 Luke 13:1-5)

Religious leaders’ hypocrisy  (Matt 23:27-28)

Those who claim to follow Him but aren’t doing the Father’s will (Matt 7:21)

Those who refuse to listen to the words of those He sends (Matt 10:14-15, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5)

Those who choose not to follow Him (Matt 16:24-26, John 12:25-26)

Disbelief in Him (John 3:18,8:24, 14:6)

Those who don’t put him above all else (Matt 8:22, Luke 9:59-60)

Leading others astray (Matt 18:6-7, Mark 9:42-48, Luke 17:1-2)

Hypocritical judging (Matt 7:3-5)

Mistreatment of God’s house (Matt 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, John 2:13-16)

Lust (Matt 5:28-29)

According to the words of Jesus, love and tolerance are not the same things. We can love without tolerating behaviors that are wrong according to the Bible. We can care about people but not join them in their sin. In fact, we are told to expose it for what it is. (5:11) We are told to correct those who persist in sin (1 Tim 5:20, 2 Tim 2:25, James 5:19-20 Gal 6:1), and avoid those who distort the gospel (Gal 1:6-9). We are to stand out from the world, not become part of it. (Rom 12:2)

The world has many ways to justify its many truths based on human thinking, human logic, human desires, and human understanding. God does not think like a human. (Isaiah 55:8)

I exhort everyone who claims to be a Christian, to open your eyes to what’s really going on. Pray for the strength to get through these days without being deceived into believing the lies that surround us every day.

Look at who and what the world tolerates, compare it to what Jesus did and did not tolerate, and then choose who you will follow.

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  Eph 5:13-27

‘…to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me’.  Acts 26:17b-18

Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. Mark 13:33

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:36

Love God First and Foremost – Open Your Eyes Series

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Deuteronomy 6:5  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Do you love God first and foremost? What does that look like?

Love: Strong’s 157 to have affection.  Affection is defined as a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.

You can feel affection for all sorts of things. Family, your pets, and babies.  Maybe even chocolate, cozy fires on cold days, and walks on the beach.  What about God?  Do you feel affection towards Him? Do thoughts of Him fill you with delight and warmth?

Your heart: Strong’s 3824  inner man, mind, will, heart

What fills your heart each day? Is it God? How much of your heart do you give to God? How much time do you spend thinking about Him and His ways?

Your soul: Strong’s 5315 a soul, living, being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

What is your passion in life? What is your greatest desire? What elicits the greatest emotions in you? Is it God? Do you seek Him as earnestly and passionately as you do your hobbies or jobs or love relationships? Do you get emotional about Him like you do at football games or concerts?

Your strength: Strong’s 3966 vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

Where do you put your greatest energy? What goals and dreams do you work towards with all your strength? Is it getting to know God? To grow in love and knowledge of Him? Of doing the things He has asked of you?

Jesus grew up with the Old Testament.  He was well familiar with Deuteronomy 6:5. But when He was asked about the greatest commandment, He said it in a different way.

Luke 10:27 And He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all our soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Love: Strong’s 25 to love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for, denotes the love of reason, esteem.

This expands on the definition of love above. Not only are you to set your affection on Him, but do you also long for Him and esteem Him above all else? Do you take pleasure in Him and His ways?

Heart: Strong’s 2532 the heart i.e. the thoughts or feelings

This one is very close to the Deuteronomy scripture. How much of your thought-life is spent on God? Do you freely give Him your feelings, or do you hold back on those, keeping Him more academic?

Soul: Strong’s 5590 breath i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely

Does every breath you take find its home in God? If you only got to take in a breath each time your thoughts went to God, would you thrive or die of suffocation?

Strength” Strong’s 2479 strength (absolutely), power, might, force, ability

How much force do you apply to push past distractions that come between you and God? How much will-power do you exert in seeking God when you’re tired or stressed or worried or sad? Do you run after Him with the best of your ability? Or do you make half-hearted attempts, giving up when the way gets hard?

Mind: Strong’s 1271 deep thought, properly, the faculty, by implication, its exercise

How deeply do you contemplate God? Are thoughts of Him fleeting as they dance through your mind, or do you exercise your brain, digging deep to understand what God reveals to you through His Word?

Don’t forget the word ‘all’. God didn’t say to love Him with some of our heart, some of our strength, some of our mind. He wants it all.

I do not do a very good at following this first and foremost command. I suspect that you don’t either. We might have lots of reasons for falling short. We’re human, we’re busy with the concerns of life, and we don’t want to become extreme like “those” people. But none of that excuses us. God gave the command to us fully aware that we are human. He’s told us to seek His kingdom first and He’d provide everything we needed. As for being extreme, Jesus was a bit extreme when He died for us. How much less so should we be?

Why does God want us to be so focused on Him? Why does He want us to love Him above all other things or people? I don’t know because it is not spelled out in the Bible. But I do know it’s not for His benefit. His commands to us are always for our benefit, to keep us safe, and to help us grow in our relationship with Him. Could it be that this first command is the basis of our entire relationship with Him? That it forms the foundation that will help us get through hard times? That in the end times, which we may well be in, it will keep us safe from deception of all kinds?

Too many times we are lulled into letting thoughts of Him drift away as other things take His place. It’s easy to become complacent until He becomes a no more than a Sunday routine. Let’s wake up to reality – to how much we actually love God. Let’s not accept anything less than our all. Let’s pray and ask God to help us grow in our ability to obey His command. That is one prayer I can pretty much guarantee He will be pleased to grant.