Tuesday, February 2, 2016
VIDEO
Because we understand our fearful
responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know
this, too. Are
we commending ourselves to you again? No,
we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who
brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy,
it is to bring glory to God. And if we
are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love
controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe
that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new
life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died
and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians
5:11-15(NLT)
A popular saying is that you should always follow your
heart. And, for those who want to
support what they want that to mean, you can always find Scripture to back it
up.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:34(NLT)
The problem with that is Scripture can also be used to show
the other side of the argument:
“The human heart is the
most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really
knows how bad it is?
Jeremiah 17:9(NLT)
So, do you follow your heart, or avoid it like the plague?
Paul understood his calling to follow Christ was a lifetime battle
for the souls of men and women. He also
understood that God’s calling could make him look like a crazy fool or a hero. But that was all in other people’s
perception; for Paul, the only thing that mattered was the love of Christ that
urged him on, directing him.
Paul said it was Christ’s love that controlled him; he walked
with Christ, voluntarily became the slave of Christ, and chose to leave
everything for the joy of serving Christ.
And therein we find the truth of Scripture that cautions each of us
against trusting our own hearts in favor of following the heart of Christ.
An example of this would be in marriage or
family. I have a wonderful Christian
wife, and three grown children with families of their own. My heart’s treasure is right in front of me
whenever I think of them. When it comes to
my time, treasure or talents, there’s no competition – I would choose them over
you any day of the week. It’s not that you’re
not a person of worth; it’s just that they are my heart’s love.
But there is a greater love that controls me.
Life’s choices are many and ever
before us. In choosing to follow
Christ I have decided to place Him on the throne of my heart. And that allegiance supersedes everything,
wife, relatives, children and friends.
If someone in my circle of acquaintances,
family or neighbors chooses against Christ, that does not mean I would love
that person less; indeed, as Christ loved, I would continue to love and perhaps
reach out more sympathetically in an attempt to draw them back.
But, this “love that controls” me cannot
control others, nor make their final choices. In the end, the same freedom in which Christ
has offered his love and acceptance to us if we come to him is that very same
freedom that permits us to walk away from him.
We can follow the leader…or not!
Which leads to a sad statement we read in the prophet Amos:
Can
two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? Amos 3:3(NLT)
If I am following Christ and another person follows his own
heart, choosing to reject Christ, the two directions will inevitably take us apart.
And that is the pain of the sword Christ warned us he came to
bring, where households would be divided.[2]
For You Today
Got a
division in the house? Reach out with
the love of Christ. While there is
breath there is still hope.
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