heart, life, or both

When we hear the Good News of the Gospel and choose to respond to it, should we give our heart to Christ, our life to Christ, OR BOTH? The answer is both!

Some people give their hearts to the Lord but they decide to keep the lifestyle for themselves. They show up in church and say YES I am a Christian, but their lifestyle reflects that of someone who has never given their lives to Christ. This causes people outside of the church to view the church as a den of hypocrites. They want to know why is he/ she living the same way I am, but he/ she is going to Heaven and I’m going to hell? This “religion thing” must be bogus and made up. Remember, we as the church body, represent Jesus to the world. How well are we representing Him?

Some people give their lives to the Lord, but they decide to keep their heart for themselves. They attend all church functions, their on committees, they sing, they teach, they go on mission trips, and sometimes they even preach. They may even have the “Jesus fish” on the back of their car next to their Christians aren’t perfect, they’re just forgiven bumper sticker. But they have a fence around their heart, so they can feed it whatever they want to. Pride, anger, lust, envy, gossip, arrogance, jealousy, selfishness, and worldly ways are some of the dangerous things that can be fed to the heart that is kept away from God, even though the life has been given to Him. Even though their life looks so religious, it may still be in trouble. Remember, religious people had Jesus put to death so they could go back to watching for the Messiah. Talk about not seeing the forest because of all those trees in the way….wow!

For me personally, I want to be a full moon for God. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun to the whole earth, I too, want to reflect the Light of the Son to the whole earth. The Christians described above, can be anything from a waning moon, to a half moon, or worst of all a new moon. Now I have had times where I was nothing more than a new moon for Christ, but I pray He will eventually use me as a full moon.

The best example I’ve heard is: if you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you. Just as an apple tree would be convicted of being an apple tree by the fruit it bears, we too would be convicted or found “innocent” of being a Christian, by the fruits we bear. Unfortunately, I believe the day where we will be put on trial for being a Christian in America is not that far away! We are to be in this world, but not of this world. We are to be a people that is set apart! Are you set apart or just camouflaged in with the rest of the world? Do you look and sound like the world, or have you given your everything to your Creator?

The hope of this world does not lie in the lost, it lies within the people of God! We are their only hope of coming to know God personally. We are the ones charged with praying for this world. A true change can only come about when we pray and allow God to work! Repentance means a change in direction, so if we are going to see a change in the direction of the lives of those around us and in our country, we (God’s people) must first repent and seek God.

I am including some verses that go with today’s entry, but I am also posting (see below) a piece that I have posted before, that I think goes with today’s entry.

Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 Timothy 2:12
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.If we deny him, he will deny us.

John 15:20
20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

1 Thessalonians 4:7,8
7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

It says right there in His Word that His people are to repent and pray. It says we are to live holy lives.Not my words but His! Are we hearing Him?
Selah