ONLY GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS!

Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same... But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:29-31, 71, 72 ESV)

O' the horrible, bitter pain of denial! It is my observation after many years of working with this complex and nuanced creature called the human being that we do not know our own hearts. How many times have I heard the impassioned plea of a person as they tell me how pure their heart is in a given situation. I want to scream, "You don't know the motives of your heart, watch out!" Am I saying this because my heart is pure? Heck NO! If there is anything I know about me it is, I don't know about me. What we know about ourselves is only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg". There is much more under the surface of our own waves that we cannot see.

Here in this text, Peter is you, and Peter is me! Peter proclaims loyalty, courage and martyrdom. Jesus reveals denial, cowardice and brokenness. Peter sees his own intentions but Jesus sees the true state of the man. I have to go with Jesus on this one. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but my own experience now confirms this narrative. I am no longer shocked or disappointed when a person reveals a character flaw or sin in the midst of a great test or time of pressure. I think I grasp the doctrine and reality of depravity and the "sin within". 

Jeremiah reminds us of the true state of the unregenerate heart here, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV). However, contrasted to this text is the New Covenant promise of Ezekiel, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "(Ezekiel 36:26 ESV). So, which is it, deceitful and sick, or new? Well, according to my understanding of the "heart" as it is Biblically defined, I must say both. The heart seems to be the intersection point within the human soul and spirit where the indwelling Spirit of God and the other influences of mind, will and emotion all interact. It is the center of our being from which we ultimately live out our lives. It is too complex and deep to understand completely. 

This is why it is so dangerous to judge another man's motives or intentions. We cannot even judge our own motives or intentions, so how can we possibly see into the depths of another man's heart? The apostle Paul confirms this idea here: "In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me." (1 Corinthians 4:3, 4 ESV). There are many other places in the Scripture where we are called to make righteous judgment and assess good and evil. Where the Bible clearly labels something to be sin or evil, we are called to declare those truths. However, we cannot judge the state of our own hearts or another man's heart.  Only God knows our hearts!

WORDS OF LIFE OR DEATH? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing...Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment...Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:18, 19, 25 ESV)

Sword thrusts or healing? Forever or just a moment? Weighed down or glad? The writer of Proverbs gives us several great contrasts to assess how we use our words. What kinds of words issue from your lips? Do people feel stabbed and thrust-through after spending time with you? Do people leave your presence feeling like healing virtue and medicine were just poured into their souls? Are you a truth-teller or exaggerator? Are you honest in your assessments or do you embellish a little to make yourself look good? Exaggerators and embellishers are quickly forgotten, but truth-tellers endure forever! 

Have you ever experienced the power that comes when your heavy, anxiety-laden heart gets suddenly lifted by a good word? Oh, that God would help us keep a watch over our tongues, mouths and lips. We are to be a people who fill our world with words of grace! Remember, whatever is filling your heart will issue out of your mouth. Let us keep our hearts filled with the grace, truth, love, justice and the holiness of God. Let us be Spirit-filled people who pour-forth words of life to all those around us. Declare LIFE!

SLAVES NOT YET READY FOR WAR!

SLAVES NOT YET READY FOR WAR!

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt." But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle... And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. (Exodus 13:17, 18, 21, 22 ESV)

God knows our abilities and mental state of mind. God knows that newly delivered slaves are not prepared to be a mighty army. God led His people away from the Philistines because He knew that they lacked the mental toughness and preparation to do battle against a nation that would later become their arch-enemies. Though they went up "equipped for battle", it was mostly for show. They were brandishing swords and spears but could only handle trowels and slave implements. They marched like roosters, but were chickens at heart. God knew this about them and it was ok. It was the season of a pillar of cloud and fire to protect, guide and cover. God let them wear the armor so they could get used to it's weight and feel, though they were not yet ready to actually use it in battle. Like George Washington and the Continetal Army at Valley Forge, God had a place called the Wilderness to form a warriors heart within them.

Have you recently been delivered out of a life of spiritual slavery? Do you want to venture out into the enemy's territory and set captives free? Don't be surprised if God keeps you out of the heat of the battle for awhile and guides your life through some wilderness training. He wants you to become comfortable with your new armor and weaponry. God wants you to become confident in your new identity as a Son or Daughter of His! He wants you to be free from a slave's mentality so you can wage a good warfare for His Kingdom. Unfortunately, as we know, this particular generation with Moses could never cast off their yoke of slavery. However, their sons and daughters would march into the Promise Land and possess it. They would be led by a mighty warrior named Joshua who had encountered "The Captain of the Host of the Lord's Armies"!

THE SACRAMENTS OF FLYING EAGLES AND GOOD MUSIC

This is a post from around 5 years ago. After reading it again, I thought it might encourage and bless some of you.

A SACRAMENT in the Christian Faith is a rite that conveys or transmits the grace of God to the adherent.  As an Evangelical/Charismatic believer, I hold to the general tradition that Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the Preaching of the Scripture are Sacraments that convey Divine grace into the life of the believer.

However, I have come to embrace a broader application of Sacramental living because I see and experience God conveying His grace to me and many others in a number of non-traditional ways.  Some specific examples would include the gifts of the Holy Spirit, music, the arts, touch, and the beauty and majesty of creation.

Yesterday, I experienced the grace of God being conveyed to me in a variety of ways as I walked along the lake in my community and drove down the highway in my car.

Mondays are often a day of recovery for me as I try to recharge myself from the intensity of the weekend.  As a pastor, I minister two services on Sunday and often spend large amounts of time in personal ministry with people in need.  For some reason, more than any other day of the week, when I am done, I am exhausted and spent. 

On Mondays, I often like to take walks, spend time being quiet and thinking about God. I enjoy connecting with Him through His big, beautiful creation.  Doing this helps me to get perspective, and remember why I got into this thing called pastoral ministry in the first place.  Yesterday, as I walked along the lake, I stopped and thanked God for the breeze on my face and arms, the warmth of the sun, the smells of grass and sagebrush, the sounds of the many varieties of birds, the cackling of geese, and the overall signs of Spring bursting out all around me.

As I was absorbing all of this, I noticed a commotion among the geese on the lake and looked up to see two magnificent bald eagles soaring on the thermal drafts above.  I watched them for a long time and thought about how they were created by God to soar, hunt, and inspire wonder in us.  It seemed that everywhere I looked, God's creation was conveying grace to me as I took it all in.

Later as I drove down the road in my car to an appointment 25 miles away, I listened to a couple of bands that I really appreciate and enjoy.  As I sang out and beat on my steering wheel to the rhythm, God conveyed His grace and Presence to me.  I joined U2 in declaring "YAHWEH, YAHWEH, always pain before a child is born, YAHWEH, YAHWEH, I'm still waiting for the dawn."  I was emotionally overcome as I realized that people all over the world were singing out the name of the ONE TRUE GOD as TIME MAGAZINE'S CO-PERSON OF THE YEAR, Bono, belted out some of the most powerful lyrics to ever go out over the airwaves! 

WALKS, DRIVES, GEESE, EAGLES, BREEZES, SUNSHINE, AND U2!  GOD WAS IMPARTING HIS LOVE, PROVISION, AND AMAZING GRACE TO THIS NEEDY MAN THROUGH THESE UNLIKELY SOURCES.  I praise Him for His SACRAMENTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE!  May He give all of us the ability to recognize how they subtly appear all around us every day.