Thursday, July 14, 2011

"The Mouth Speaks From The Heart"

It was Jesus who said that what proceeds from the mouth comes from the heart (Matt. 15:18). What a person talks about every time we meet them, that talk reveals what is important to their heart, their life. What about God? What God speaks about over and over, isn't that what's important to Him? If God speaks continuously about what is important to Him, shouldn't that be what is important to us?
Peter told us that those who wrote about the prophecy of Scripture were moved by the Holy Spirit speaking from God (I Pet. 1:20-21). All the NT writers speak tirelessly of the death and resurrected Christ. That is what is most important to God. What they wrote, they spoke. What they spoke, they lived. The death and resurrected Christ was a motivating factor in their daily lives.
Too many are getting caught up in things from God that God didn't intend to be life changing! For instance, in Job 1 we have listed that Job had 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 female donkeys. These are true facts but the fact that Job had more or less of these animals is of no great significance! It doesn't affect our view of God or man. It doesn't help explain the grand design of creation or the purpose of God in that grand design. Truths laid out in Scripture from God are not to be ignored or denied but they are of minor importance to what really matters to God!
It was Jesus, explaining God to mankind, that spoke about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. The OT Scriptures are filled with a deep love for God and not some legalistic form of religion. The commandments given Israel were for the heart, not a legal system to file things under. It was Jesus expressing profound teachings of forgiveness because of Him laying down His life on our behalf. The OT sacrifices are about forgiveness and forgiving because of forgiveness offered. This is the heart of God, the central thrust of His word. Peter speaks that God wants none to perish (II Pet. 3:9) as did Ezekiel in Eze. 18:23 that God takes NO pleasure in one losing their souls.
Genesis 1:26-27 teaches us that God made man in His image. There is one God and He made all of us, no matter of race, in His image. This truth has depth! No man on this earth is sub-human. No person, no matter sex, culture or social status is to be dehumanized or treated unjustly! James 3:9 along with Prov. 14:21-22 both speak of this. This truth should make all of us look at ourselves and those around us through the eyes of the Lord God.
There are so many other teachings but the one that continues to stand out is Christ Jesus and Him crucified. From the OT to the NT, the promises and accomplishment of His death and life are the major theme. It seems too many of our classes, our pulpits are filled with talk that miss the point of what was on the heart of God. Just listen carefully when one talks and you can know what they love. How careful are we about listen to God?

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