Tag Archives: emotions

Root of a disciple

 

Chris Tomlin – Is He Worthy? (Live)

 

There are times when I worry that my heart could actually become hard and turn God away.

He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel. – 2 Chronicles 36:13  ESV

The “heart” is an unusual description of my emotions. Just like the word “love” the world has changed the meaning of the word “heart.” My heart is the core of my being – it is a mysterious and complex centre in my life where my longings, thinking, motivation and values reside. Out of my heart come my choices, behaviours and emotions. My heart was damaged and I thank God that He has changed it.

That is why I believe God wants to make sure that if our hearts do get hard, He has a way of softening them. As I read further in 2 Chronicles chapter 36 I see the exile was a way for that to happen.

The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.  Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. – 2 Chronicles 36:15-17  ESV

God’s character shows up – holiness, goodness – and the discipline, the core of it was rooted in change and set eyes to the future and to restoration. Is it safe to say that the root of a disciple is discipline?

A hard heart represents a rebellious and sinful person who needs to repent. There are consequences of a hard heart. Some suggest that Old Testament is not relevant as it is the old covenant but look at the calls to repentance throughout the books there. If I forget God, disobey Him and worship anything else but Him my destruction is on me. To abuse grace is to not understand the need for repentance. The root of a disciple is discipline – so true.

 

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Foundation of life

 

Pat Barrett – Build My Life

 

Each of us has within ourselves sources of life. What comes out in the character and behaviour of a person as a whole is an expression of a few sources in that person that provide the foundation of their life.

Jesus gives us a few of these in Mark chapter twelve when asked what the greatest commandment was. He did not give a list like the ten commandments, He instead talked about the part of a person.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31  ESV

The Bible really likes expressing how the heart is the seat of a person’s emotions, will and conscience. Those expressions go from guarding our heart to loving with all of our heart. He wants my heart to be His – hence the greatest commandment. Again, love is a choice, not a feeling.

The idea of loving God passionately shows up in how we love Him and love people. I would assume that we would be tempted right here to keep it that simple – yet we know it is not. Love demands effort, action and passion.

Love is the leading affection of the soul and God’s love is the leading grace in the renewed soul. Love battles for the seat of the throne in our souls, it engages us to honour Him. The commandments have little effect on us if this principle of love rules.

That is the foundation of life. From here I can love my neighbour because I know where I stand with God. My neighbour can experience God’s love as much as I have and what a joy for me to share that with them.

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