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.