Bible Thoughts June 27, 2004
",,his heart is not with you"(Proverbs 23:7)
The Bible heart is the mind. Have you ever tried to speak with someone who is not paying attention to then conversation? His heart is not with you! It is difficult to engage most of the people to engage in a Bible discussion. Even those who claim to be religious indicate a lack of interest in Bible discussions. They do not have their heart attuned to discussing one's religion. Their hearts are not with you!
Those who are not religious at all are not the only ones whose hearts are not with you. A few years past, it was not difficult to engage one in a conversation about the scriptures. Alias, things are different. If you try to speak with one about his/her soul, you will, in most instances, fail to have a response. The heart is not with you!
While writing this material, the phone rang. A gentleman asked if the "pastor" was there. I told him that we did not have one. Next, he asked if we had a "reverend" and was answered by pointing out that description belonged to God. He hung up! His heart wasn't with me.
Even within the kingdom of God, such may occur. There are subjects that brethren do not want to discuss because their hearts are not focused on what the scriptures reveal, but rather upon their own ideas about a subject. We have noted such among those who have taken a liberal path and follow the institutional positions. Since there is no scriptural authority for human institutions to be supported by the church, their hearts are not open, too many times, to what is revealed in God's word.
The subject of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage may be a passover of what the scriptures reveal, as some will focus on their own feelings and emotions rather than the word of God. Too many hearts(if only one) who are not willing to investigate and apply what the New Testament teaches on this subject. The God of Heaven intended for one man to have one woman. If one loses a mate, the right of another marriage is the living mate. "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband"(Romans 7:2 ). Should a mate be put away for unfaithfulness, the right of another marriage of the innocent party is taught in the word of God. If the mate dies, the surviving mate has the right to marry again. Our world has no concept of what the New Testament teaches. And--unfortunately--some Christians. In too many cases, the "heart is not with you." My young friend, do not make a mistake--follow the scriptures as you seek a mate. Do not make a mistake and marry the wrong person even is your "heart" seems to approve.
All of our religious activities must be
"heart-felt religion." When our hearts are focused on doing what God
says, we will be able to stand firm for the truths of the gospel and
live a life that pleases the Lord. When our heart is dedicated to
the Lord and His word, we can live a life that will lead us to
Heaven.
"So Jotham became mighty, because he
ordered his ways before Jehovah his God"(II Chronicles 27:6)
The name Jotham means "Yahweh has shown Himself to be perfect." This king of Israel was twenty-five years old when he started his reign. He lived 16 years after he became the king. Jotham was a mighty king--he walked in the paths of righteousness in his day. He is one of the few kings that were righteous and dedicated to the Lord and His ways. He was "perfect" in his willingness to follow the ways of Jehovah. He was "mighty" because he "ordered his ways."
Let each of us, in our days, take note of this ancient follower of God, because he was among the few kings who would practice righteousness. It was most becoming of Jotham to follow the word of God in his day for he would receive help from the Almighty. A complete trust in the Lord and His way made this king a "mighty" person. When we "order" our ways, we are living up to the commands found in the New Testament. Our dedication to the Lord's ways will make our ways pleasing to our Creator.
Let there be more Jothams among God's
people.
"Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him"(Acts 10:34-35).
The words of the apostle Peter ring down
through the ages to express the willingness of God to accept any man
who is willing to fear him and to follow his commandments(that is,
work righteousness). The Lord cares nothing about your background
when it comes to serving him. His desire is that you be willing to
change your life by obeying his word and remain faithful to him.
Whatever sin you may have committed, whatever words you may have
spoken, whatever evil thought you have had--the Lord is willing to
accept and forgive you. No man, however evil, is denied the
opportunity to become righteous through the gospel of Christ.
However hopeless you think you may be, the Lord still cares about
your soul.
"A man may be able to master half the languages of the world; he may
have read books till he is a walking encyclopedia; he may be
acquainted with the stars of Heaven, the birds of the sea, the cedars
of Lebanon; yea, he may be able to discourse upon the great secrets
of earth, air, fire, and water, and still be lost for remaining
ignorant of the Bible. Chemistry never silenced a guilty conscience,
mathematics never healed a broken heart, philosophy can not give hope
in death, natural theology gives no hope of a resurrection...So a man
may be ignorant in those things, and yet by the knowledge of that one
book--of one science-- reach a home in heaven with God. We can get
to Heaven without money, health, learning, or friends, but not
without the Bible."(from Life of Knowles Shaw, 1879)
Success in Preaching:
William Hayden, preacher of the
gospel, "during a ministry of thirty-five years he traveled 90,000
miles, 60,000 of which were made on horseback, baptized over 1200
people with his own hands, and preached over 9,000 sermons, or about
260 per year(early 1800s).-From Origin and History of the Disciples
of Christ.
The people of that day were not hindered by the many offerings of our present day. They did not have the Internet, the TV, the radio, the movies, the carnival type attractions that are offered by corporations, and the myriad of other entertainments that entice the masses. Would it not be wonderful if those who compose our world would take the time to listen to the gospel? Our interests need to be focused in this life on spiritual matters in order to prepare for the next life. William Hayden used the truth to attract the audiences to think about eternity. Gospel preachers teach the truth today and trust that the seed will fall on fertile soil. The more efforts we put forth, greater the results will be.