The Tale of Two Heart Conditions

The Christmas Story includes a tale of two heart conditions. The Gospel of Matthew chapter two tells us of  wise men from the east who were seeking to find Him who was born King of the Jews. They followed the light of His star which led them to Bethlehem, where they presented gifts to this King, and then fell down and worshiped Him.

This same chapter from the Bible tells us of another man, King Herod. When he heard the announcement of this King's birth, he acted like he wanted to worship Him, but instead he wanted to kill Him. Why did he want to kill this baby? Because Herod thought this baby's birth could somehow interrupt his reign as king. He gave the order to have every male child in this district two years old or younger to be killed.

Here we find examples of two heart conditions. Heart condition one: “Wise men,” who when they   heard of the coming Messiah, sought Him out, found Him and worshiped. Heart condition two: “Herod,” who upon hearing of this King, rejected Him, and sought to neutralize any effect Jesus might have on his  life. Instead of submitting to this King's authority, he thought only of preserving his own reign.

So today, we tell the Christmas Story of a babe born in Bethlehem, born for one reason, to pay the debt for our sins on a cross 33 years later. Do we give Him the glory He deserves as King and Lord, or do we seek to preserve our life and let nothing interrupt our reign? Jesus said, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” 

My prayer this Christmas is that all may find the peace and forgiveness found only in Jesus, by responding with the heart of the wise men.

Submit, Then Resist

1 Peter 5:8 refers to the devil as “our adversary,” whom we are to resist, steadfast in the faith.  How does one resist the devil?  James 4:7 says, “Submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  Some make the mistake of trying to resist the devil without doing the first part of this verse.  It is only by submitting our lives to the Lord that we have power to resist the schemes of the devil.  When we submit to God, we are saying, “God, I choose to obey You and obey Your word.”  Submitting to God is the first step in resisting the devil.

Webster’s dictionary defines “resist” as “to withstand and remain strong against the force of something.”  To remain strong against the forces of the devil takes the power of God.  Human strength will only go so far.  We need God’s power to withstand the devil.  In Luke 10:19 Jesus said, “Behold I give you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.”  Jesus has given His followers authority to use His Name to withstand and remain strong against all the forces of darkness.

Another aspect of resisting the devil is to keep a humble heart.  James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  The devil started out as “the anointed cherub or angel” who became so prideful he thought he could overthrow God.  When we get lifted up in pride, we are following satan (and God resists the proud).  But if we will humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will be our help and strength.  If the believer in Jesus will submit to God, and resist evil using Jesus’ name and authority, the devil will surely flee from us.

Walking in Divine Authority

In Luke 10 Jesus says, “Behold I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.” Jesus continues, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” I think it’s fair to say that many Christians are rejoicing that their names are written in heaven, but how many more Christians have forgotten the first part of this verse, that we have been given authority over the devil. In John 10:10 Jesus tells us “the thief” (aka satan) “comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” How many know that by using the authority that we have been given in Jesus’ name, we can bring to naught the devil's wicked schemes?

Jesus is our example, showing us how to operate in the authority He has given us. Philippians 2:7 tells us that Jesus “made Himself of no reputation.” That means that even though He is God, He laid aside His deity in order to show us by example how a man who is submitted to God, can walk in authority over the devil. Jesus always did the will of His Father. Jesus was fully submitted to God. Do you want to walk in divine authority over the devil? Submit your life to God, to our Lord Jesus, and to God’s word.

Jesus paid a high price so that His church could walk in divine authority over “all the power of the enemy.” Let’s follow His example and reject all the evil works of darkness and fully submit our lives to Almighty God. By following Jesus’ example, we will be able to say what the early disciples of Jesus said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 

Fully Receive, Freely Give

In Matthew 1:8 Jesus tells His disciples, “Freely you have received, freely give.” This statement is a foundational truth in the kingdom of God. In order to give anything, we must first receive. You’ve probably heard the saying “you can’t get blood out of a turnip.” Meaning, you cannot give what you don’t have.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one other; even as God in Christ forgave you.” This is one of many scriptures telling the believer in Jesus to be kind, loving, and forgiving. According to our opening scripture, we must first receive these from Jesus, in order to have them to give to others.

I wonder if one of the reasons we struggle to love others is because we have not fully received the great love that God has for us. I wonder if one of the reasons we struggle to forgive others is because we have not fully received the forgiveness that is offered to us in Jesus Christ. Freely you have received, freely give.

It’s been many years ago now, but when I surrendered my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, I accepted His offer to forgive me of all of my sins. I experienced God’s love as I read the word of God and found out how great God’s love was for me. Something was changing on the inside of me. Now, I had something to give. I could obey a scripture like Ephesians 4:32 because I had received those very things from my Lord.

I have a question for you: Have you fully received all that our Lord desires to give to you? That is a good question for each of us to take to the Lord in prayer. Receiving must come first, then we have something to give. Freely you have received, freely give.

Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Our physical bodies need natural food to be healthy and strong, but our spirit man needs spiritual food (the word of God) to remain healthy and strong. Jesus repeats this theme in Matthew 6 when He says, “Do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink, or your body, what you shall wear, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

We have need of physical food to be healthy and strong, but even ahead of these things, we should seek first God’s kingdom and His holy word to feed our spiritual man. As one fellow put it, “We feed our physical bodies three hot meals a day, and our spirit man one cold snack a week, and wonder why we aren’t stronger spiritually.”

Set aside time each day to spend with God in prayer and in His word. It doesn’t have to take a huge part of your day, start with 5 minutes and say, “Lord, I’m coming to You, and to Your word to know You and Your ways.” There are many good devotions out there, but one I can recommend is www.ourdailybread.org. It is available in print form, a daily devotion on their website, via email, or even on a mobile app for your smart phone. All of it is available at no charge. It gives you a scripture passage, a short devotion, and a prayer. Or, if you prefer, get out your bible and read a passage from the Gospel of John each day. Our spirit man needs good food, for man shall not live by bread alone.

Quick to Listen

One of the great privileges we have as believers in Jesus is that we can hear His call. In John 10:27 Jesus declares, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give them Eternal life.” Notice the heart attitude of one of Jesus’ sheep, they hear Him. Hearing Jesus develops an intimacy where He becomes known to us, and we are known to Him. As we get to know Him, and His voice, we trust our Shepherd and follow His lead. He leads us in His ways, and gives us eternal life. From Psalm 23 we know our Shepherd leads us to lush green pastures and peaceful waters. That is good news to a sheep.

Following Jesus requires an attitude that is willing to set aside any distractions. Proverbs 4:20 says, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.” To “incline our ears” means to give “full attention” to what the word of God has to say. The Good Shepherd will never lead us in a path that is contrary to the word of God, so it is important that we are diligent to read and study God’s word.

And finally, James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” At times, the opposite is true for us, we are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to anger. If we are going to follow Jesus we are going to have to develop better skills in listening. Pray and ask Jesus to help you be a better listener, to set aside distractions and find out what His word has to say on the subject at hand, and to know your Good Shepherd. He will guide you into His path and plan. It’s His promise: My sheep hear My voice.

What God Sees

A lot of times what the world thinks is important is not important to God.
1 Samuel 16:7 says, “For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  This account in 1 Samuel shows God instructing the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king for Israel.  God was not interested in who was the most handsome, the most talented, or the most likely to succeed; He was interested in who had a heart for the things of God.  God chose David to lead Israel, not because of his vast experience in leading people, but because God saw in David a man after His own heart. As David led Israel, it was revealed he had some major flaws, yet God used David mightily because when David missed it, he repented and continued to have a heart for the things of God.

God is still looking for people He can use to accomplish great things for His kingdom.  With God, it’s not a person’s ability that is key, but a person’s availability. God has given wonderful gifts to people, abilities like helping and serving, leading and speaking, loving and giving.  But, how many are willing to say, “Lord, I’m available, use me.”  It’s easy to come up with excuses as to why we can’t be used by God.  Some would say, “I’m too busy,” others, “I’m too old,” others, “I’m too young.”  It’s not up to us to determine if the Master can use us, our part should be to say, “Lord, if you want to use me, I’m available.” God may not be looking for the most gifted to do a particular job, but a person whose heart is toward Him.

How about you?  Will you say, “Lord, send me!"