What’s In Your Heart

Proverbs 23:7 says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”  Matthew 15:18 tells us, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”  Seems the real me has been more obvious to others than myself.  Thankfully, the “fear of the LORD (awe, reverence, respect) is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 9:10)  Fortunately, I am no fool.  I am in the school of the LORD and the test has been difficult to take.  

What God Wants

God’s Word tells us what He loves and what He hates.  It is NOT rocket science.  It is plain.  It is simple.  It is straightforward.  It is NOT easy.  

Wake Up Call

So what was the wake up call for this daughter of the Most High God?  An encounter.  An encounter with the world and my poor unChristlike response to it and being called on the carpet about it in no uncertain terms.  This is happening on a grand scale in our nation right now.  Lord, have mercy!

So, after wallowing in self pity because I was “so misunderstood” I decided I would do what I should have done before I opened my mouth:  I went to the Word to do some research.  My subject of interest was abominations.  Just what constitutes an abomination to the LORD.

Boy was I in for a shock!  I was guilty of all SEVEN recorded in Proverbs 6!  Proverbs 3:32 says that a perverse person is an abomination and Proverbs 6 tells us the characteristics of said individual. 

Proverbs 6:16-19 reads “These six things doth the LORD HATE: yea seven are an abomination unto Him:

*A proud look (we call this “haughty” in the South, or “looking down your nose.”  Some say it is thinking you are better than someone else.)

*A lying tongue (you know those “little white lies” we tell each other to avoid hurt feelings to the blackest dishonesty)

*Hands that shed innocent blood (murder or even the thought of “I wish he/she was dead)

*A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (“I need to rob a bank;” “I need to hire a hitman;” or “If Richard Gere would drive up in a DeLorean I will take up being a lady of the evening,” ummm you get the idea)

*Feet running to mischief (surely this needs no explanation)

*A false witness that speaks lies (slander, libel, gossip-yes, listening to it counts, false testimony, “sharing” on FaceBook)

*He that sows discord (moans, groans, gripes, complains, wants it “my way”, criticism of others and how they do what they do) among the brethren (this is our church family).

No Excuses Allowed

Yes, I know we say a lot of things in “jest,”  “to vent,” or to “just add to the conversation,” but the cold hard fact is my words reveal my heart condition of lust, anger, jealousy, vengeance, pride, arrogance, and self-righteousness.  Did you notice what did not make the abominations list?  Not a single one of the “big sins!”  

My life really is lived OUT LOUD!  Speaking volumes and a simple “the devil made me do it” or “I got up on the wrong side of the bed,” is an insult to Christ because it minimizes the price He paid for MY SIN!  I had a choice!

It is a wonder I have a single prayer answered.  There has been, at times, much unconfessed sin in my life.  I need to call this what it is.  Sin.  

As a member of the body of Christ, as His Bride, I MUST stop pointing fingers at a world looking for answers.  The abominations we want to focus on are not the issue.  The issue is a heart that has not yet found JESUS.  If the church were to focus on Jesus and pointing the way to HIM, His Holy Spirit will “renew” them just like He is “renewing me.”  My recognition of my sin is making me so uncomfortable, I do NOT want to do it anymore!!!!!  Neither will those we judge.

Living Like Jesus

The woman caught in adultery.  Jesus did not excuse her sin.  He forgave it.  

The woman at the well with too many husbands.  Jesus told her He knew about it and then offered her His time, His compassion, and His acceptance–not of her sin but of who she was.

It was His love and lack of condemnation that drew crowds to Him.  Should we, who are as guilty of sin if not more so, not do likewise.  Zaccheus the tax collector “owned his sin.”

The woman caught in adultery and the woman “living in sin” proclaimed their baggage.  The thief on the cross acknowledged he was indeed a thief.    I admire this.  They had no delusions of their quilt.  I have often excused mine away.

Be Honest With Yourself

The truth is sin is sin is sin.  There is no sin scale.  Every sin cost Jesus His life.  Oswald Chambers writes, “When God wants to show you what human nature is like apart from Himself, He has to show it (to) you in yourself.” (My Utmost for His Highest, June 1st)  Question then is “are we honest” with ourselves?

Colossians 3:8, Galatians 5:19-21 and I Corinthians 6:9-11 all remind us that apart from Christ there is no salvation and our one and only command was to LOVE.  They will KNOW we are Christians by our LOVE.  Jesus is still in the business of redemption.  Some changes were instantaneous.  Most changes happen over time.  I will struggle til He calls me home.

Father, forgive me for my pointing finger.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin.  Give me a heart of compassion.  Thank you for letting me see myself as you see me.  It has put me on my face to seek Your grace.  May my mouth be filled with wisdom and kindness from this day forward.  It is In the NAME OF JESUS who gave me the right to come boldly that I ask, believing I shall receive.  Amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcTvtuuVU8

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcTvtuuVU8

If We’re Honest by Francesca Battistelli

 Also see 04/24/17 post:  The Discernment Struggle

The Discernment Struggle

 

Treading in the ocean of His love, 

Yvonne Jones

Proverbs Scriptures r/t abominations.  These basically fit into one of the seven listed:

Proverbs 3:32 Proverbs 20:10, 23

Proverbs 8:7 Proverbs 21:27,

Proverbs 11:1, 20 Proverbs 28:9

Proverbs 12:22 Proverbs 29:27

Proverbs 15:8,9,26

Proverbs 16:5, 12

Proverbs 17:15