“For You do not desire
sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O
God, You will not despise.” - Psalm
51:16-17
Like the rich young ruler who
thought that it was what he did that would get him into heaven, Jesus showed him
that it was the condition of his heart that made the difference between heaven
and hell. It is easy to do something for God – a lot easier than yielding our hearts
and lives to God. Martin Luther struggled with the Book of James because Martin
Luther was all about justification -
being right before a holy God – by faith and not works. Yet James seemed to say
that it was works that proved our faith.
Actually they were both
right. Think about what I just wrote. Of course they were both right – the Word
of God is truth and the Word of God says both. So why the confusion? Works is a
natural result of faith – but faith is not a natural result of works. Like the rich young ruler's thinking – “If I do
the right things – the religious things – what the scripture says to do, then I
will be justified before God.” WRONG!!! Honk! Honk! Buzzzzz! That is putting
the proverbial works-cart before the faith-horse.
Why do we do that? Because it
is easy to do. It is something that we
can do and we don’t really need God to do it. We can make a sacrifice and present
it to God with a sinful heart and convince ourselves because we did something “good”
that God is pleased and is welcoming us with open arms. WRONG!!! Honk! Honk!
Buzzzzz!
“Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but
inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first
cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean
also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful
outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so
you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of
hypocrisy and lawlessness.” – Matthew
23:24-28
It is easy to do good things
and God have no part in it. An easy trap
to fall in to. You can go on a mission trip and be praised by men for your “sacrifice”,
yet it was all you. You left God at
home. If you want to get this faith life
right – and I believe you do else you would not be reading this – you must understand
that it begins and ends with a broken and contrite heart. Contrite means
repentant. A heart turned toward God and
away from the world.
“If anyone comes after Me
(Jesus), let them deny themselves, pick up their cross (every day) and follow Me.”
– Matthew 16:24
Don’t’ you see – obedience is
born out of a repentant heart not human will and determination. Before you act
on what God has directed you to do, there was a moment in the heart when you
yielded to God and then you acted for the glory of God and His purposes – not yours.
You see, it does not really matter what God asks you to do – no matter how big
or how small – what matters is the condition of your heart toward God. When
that is right – works will follow and will demonstrate your faith and glorify God.
“I am the vine; you are
the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit (good
works); apart from me you can do nothing (for the kingdom of God).” – John
15:5
It starts with the heart.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For
His Glory Alone
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