There are three legs to a race. One. Two and Three. The first one you are finding your pace. The second one, you have discovered your pace and are maintaining it. The third and last one, you have now found your pace, kept your pace and are now making your final move to get into the desired place and are ready to finish strong. With that said, I now invite you into my HEART...
First Leg
Beloved, have you ever thought what great things will come simply by reading the Word of God and meditating in it?! Not meditate on, but meditate in. There’s a difference. To meditate on it, is to think about it for a time. To meditate in it, is to be consumed by it, and inevitably experience it becoming part of you. Amen.
For the Word of God says this
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
(Joshua 1:8 NKJV emphasis added by me)
What does it mean to know God’s heart? Have you ever asked yourself that? I have heard that when you are in a married relationship with a woman, in order to know your wife’s heart, you ought to study her. What makes her happy, excited, sad, angry. What puts a smile on her face. The love language she has: meaning, what manner of a response from you, (whether it be a physical one, vocal, material, time spent or a service to her of some kind) makes her feel loved and appreciated. This isn’t always easy for many as well as myself! Some people are dealing with pains from their past in what ever degree it may be, in which can certainly hinder the way someone loves another. Some didn’t have a proper example from others when being raised up from children to adults and that can certainly hinder the way you respond to others. No matter the situation or circumstance, this I know. With God all things are possible.
Now studying someone doesn’t have to be a tedious chore, on the contrary, a very exciting experience. A journey that has a very personal and intimate look to it and it is quite unique for everyone. Now an outline does help us to get going in the right direction. I believe the verses in scripture you will read here today, will further help you get onto the right direction, and if you stick to that path, you will be well on your way to knowing God’s heart.
Midway Summary
So let us sum up where we stand already. We know that...
- meditating in God’s Word becomes us.
- knowing God’s heart is like studying a woman or equally a man when in a committed relationship.
- by studying, we will come to know the love language of a person.
- with God all things are possible.
This is a great start!
Second Leg
Here is another road map for us, to remain on the path to knowing God’s heart
Beloved, God’s Word further describes the one who meditates in God’s Word and how such a persons life, should and will look like in that, it forewarns and declares to us, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:1-3 NKJV)
Everything is pointing to a relationship. Wouldn’t you agree? But not any kind of relationship, but in specific, a committed one. There’s something to be said about a committed relationship and one who doesn’t know commitment. The committed person will come to know the heart of the one they’re committed to, and the other, well, struggles and problems of all sorts are inevitable.
The uncommitted person is like the ungodly, sinning and scornful person we’re warned about in the above verses in scripture. They’re trouble and remaining in such ways makes it impossible to know God’s heart.
Beloved, in order to accomplish such a feat for the ungodly man who stands separated from God in that He doesn’t know Christ, such a man must become like one with tunnel vision only fixated on one thing and one thing only, and that is God:
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
One who now chooses to set his mind on higher things, would be wise to ask, what am I to do? What are the higher things? What does the Lord require of me? Will this help me know His heart? The next seven verses in scripture are absolutely wonderful at guiding us to further know God’s heart.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear [reverently give honor and praise and glory] the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.”(Deuteronomy 10:12-14 NKJV emphasis added by me)
“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:14-16)
I have heard, being in a committed relationship, you find yourself studying your spouse, yet along the lines something changes. You begin to, whether knowingly or unknowingly, start to take for granted your relationship. You have been in it for a while (a while varies from person-to-person) and you start to think you know all that there is to know about your spouse. So you stop studying them, and before you know it, the committed relationship grows cold and strained.
The above may be you, and I have found myself unknowingly in such treacherous territory when it has come to knowing God’s heart as well as marriage. Let us place ourselves together in this situation as it is sadly a common one in today’s Western Church. You and I have now been for a while in the Lord Jesus as faithful believers (our committed relationship), and we realize we aren’t experiencing the joy we once had and are now doing a “religious to-do list.” This would be the equivalent to no longer studying God’s Word, making time to be in intimate prayer to the Lord, and putting other things as priority such as serving in Church, focusing on careers, entering into a new relationship with someone, etc... If this is you as it was me, do not worry. Here’s the remedy:
‘Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.’
(1 Samuel 15:22)
Last Leg
Now is the time to keep it together. To keep doing the things we have been taught. To remain on our path, and see it all the way through. Victory awaits us!
Okay, so obeying is better than sacrifice, and that certainly zeroes in on our efforts and to-do lists, and causes us to refocus on knowing God’s heart. Let us finish this last leg of the race knowing that it will produce a far more valuable prize then a medal, but knowing God’s heart! Here is an intimate look into God’s heart if there ever was one. Amen.
With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6,8)
If you were to further find yourself in struggle that leads you to sin again, against the Lord your God, let this be the remedy that you will only seek.
So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually. (Hosea 12:6)
If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 AMP)
To be in this place, a place where you and God are moving with rhythm and harmony and the two of you are seamless, in that, He is your God and you have looked to Him to cast off all restraints and walk in hand and in step with Him to live the victorious life He has set before you, and to know His heart both personally and intimately, such words shall be the beat of your heart:
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things [selfish; self-seeking, prideful], but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21 emphasis added by me)
But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:8-17 emphasis added by me)
Such wonderful things coming out of our lives is the mark of victory. It is the epitome of a committed relationship. It is the path to take, the way to know God’s heart. It is how a committed relationship between a man and woman as God has created and called it to be should look like. It is not easy, but once again, and this is a great comfort to me as well, with God all things are possible. Let us sum up all that is good; all that is of higher things... All that is of God’s heart!
Finally, brethren [beloved ones in Christ; those who truly desire to know the very heart of God], whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 emphasis added by me)
With Jesus’ help, we can all come together collectively in the name of Jesus, but individually as we all do not reside with one another but are all loved by the same majestic God, and enter an agreement that resonates in the deepest recesses of our hearts and souls and declare we shall keep all these words to be active in our lives as a memorial of how great our God is, and how we are willing to walk humbly with Him to know His heart and remain committed to Him. If so, let the final words below be that agreement for all of us, that we shall take up with all sincerity, integrity, honor and vigilance, by saying in Jesus name, Amen!
Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. (Deuteronomy 29:9 NKJV)
No comments:
Post a Comment