A Close Look
I’ve noticed that as I get older my physical sight or vision gets worse, but my insight improves greatly. I don’t know everything about everything, but I do know some things that work and some things that don’t. I have experiences now that I didn’t have years ago. My journey with the Lord looks significantly different now than it did when I was younger – I think it’s even different than it was just 10 years ago. If I were to do an audit of my spiritual journey, it would bring me back to a closer look at my heart. I’m not sure the Lord cares about what I wear or how many hairs are on my head (even though He knows that) – He cares about the current condition of my heart. This is where all the decisions and choices I make originate from.
When my kids were small, I remember being clearly aware of when they did something that was ignorant or dumb versus doing something that was thought out and straight up disrespect for the rules and code of our family. I made the punishment swift and sure for the disrespect and the other were great teaching moments to mold them. I had to be discerning to know the difference between the two types of behavior.
King David was constantly pouring out his heart before the Lord. He seemed to get the fact that God cares more about the heart than any external behavior. The Lord knows the difference between my stupidity and my premeditated sin or rebellion. Check this out…
8 Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure –
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. (Psalm 7:8-9,17 NIV)
The Lord knows my heart. The Lord shapes my heart. The Lord builds His righteousness into my heart. I don’t want anything to enter my heart except what brings honor and glory to Him. I must be careful not to make my life and behavior about me. My life and behavior reflects Him inside of me.
Pressing On!
Dwayne