[Manny Varela]

MATTHEW 15- DISTANT HEARTS

“This people draws near to me with their mouths, and honors me with their lips; but their hearts are far from me”. 

Matthew 15:8

Modern-day cultural Christianity has produced some of the biggest names Christendom has made within church history. These super-star pastors boast of what appears to be the blessings of God. These blessings seem to affirm their belief as they point to their large sanctuaries dressed with expensive lights and technology. They point to their grand buildings and their large number of members that can hardly contain sports arenas. Their focus is concert-like music and the message that God loves you.

Although God is love and is calling, this is just one side of the coin to a holy God. The reality is that God is just as much righteous as He is love. And that His righteousness demands punishment towards unrepented sin from His creation, whom He loves.

Unfortunately, the former message of love is much more popular than that of the latter; the judgment of unrepented sin. And because of this sobering reality, we have many so-called Christians profess with their mouth that they know God’s love, but in their hearts, they reject God’s holiness and His hatred for man’s sin. And because of this, many confessing Christians’ are very distant from the Lord they profess to know and love.

CHALLENGE

Do you identify yourself as a Christian? If so, do you hate sin as much as you profess to love God? If not, ask as King David did in the books of Psalms 50:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

And only then can your Christian profession be genuine

[Jacob Mannon]

This is a topic very similar to that which I have been discussing with my youth group. We have been discussing the responsibility of a Christian to have the integrity to not only do what is right but speak out against what is wrong and evil in the world. The “super-star” pastors do speak on love, but what about speaking out against that which God clearly states as evil? In Genesis 37:2 it says, “This is the history of Jacob. Joseph being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers, and the lad was with the sons of Bilha and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father”. When we look at Joseph, we see a young man of integrity who speaks out against the things which are wrong. Throughout his story, Joseph spends time being sold into slavery, imprisonment, but ultimately though his righteousness and God’s favor, he is promoted to the prime minister of Egypt. The lesson we learn from Joseph is that though in this world we may be unpopular and persecuted for doing what is right, God sees the hearts of all and shows favor on the righteous.

[Matt McShane]

This conversation and discussion are critically important to us. We can declare openheartedly that we are Christians and yet our hearts are not in him and secured in his Word. I struggle with this daily. Throughout this summer, this is something I am wanting to change in me and not just proclaim it but show it and act it out daily with my words and how I act around my peers. With a new job I am hoping to grab, I want to act differently around my co-workers.

[Kanthony]

Hi Matt.
I think this is particularly difficult to do these days. But, we still have to keep shining His light in our actions and in everything we do. I will pray for you to be able to do this in your new job.

[Victoria Rollins]

I define myself as a Christian. Being a Christian is very difficult sometimes. There are times I want to sin but that is Satan pulling on my chains to try and pull me away from the lord and I cannot allow that to happen ever. I am hoping to continue to grow my relationship with the Lord and continue to allow myself time to forgive the Lord and allow myself to build within him.

[Mjulius513]

I walk through life, striving to balance my responsibilities with my spiritual calling, I often reflect on the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” This scripture reminds me that there is a divine timing for all things, and in seeking harmony between my duties and my faith, I find peace in the knowledge that I am guided by His wisdom and grace.

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