Be NOT Do

I grew up thinking that if I went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night that I would be a good Christian. Then I heard a guy say that “going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger”! I had to reexamine what I had been taught.

As I’m journeying through Hosea (a tough read), I see the analogy and the picture of prostitution that Israel has been to God.  I feel like sometimes I’ve hurt the Lord like that as well. He calls them out on their behavior and lifestyle. Check this out….

⁴ Your deeds won’t let you return to your God.
    You are a prostitute through and through,
    and you do not know the Lord. (Hosea 5:4 NLT)

He stops Israel in her tracks. He calls out the sin. He calls out the choices. Then He says that your deeds (good works) won’t work for returning to Him.  I don’t believe that I could ever do enough to earn my salvation through Jesus.

I do go to church for fellowship, teaching, inspiration, accountability, and motivation. I want to spend time in God’s Word to learn more about His Heart. That is what He wants for my heart – to be like His. I’m surrendering my heart to His today. I want His heart for others. I want His heart for my community. I want His heart for our state. I want His heart for our nation.

I want to keep learning and growing in my faith. As a result of my deep faith, my deeds will reflect the fruit of His Heart in mine.

Pressing On!

Dwayne