“God desires that we
become Bible-hearted practitioners, not just Bible knowers.”
Klaus Issler
“…there is a great
deal of disappointment expressed today about
the character and the effects of
Christian people…”
Following
Jesus is about change. Change in our thoughts, speech and behavior. In fact,
that good church word “repentance” literally means to “turn around and go the
other way.” It is to change direction. Jesus came to us to show us another way
to live. Knowing with considerable clarity what Jesus taught has no value to
Jesus – none. That is, none unless it is followed by change.
The church
is populated with people who “know” the Bible. The Pharisees mentioned in the
pages of the New Testament “knew” the Bible. Perhaps no one knew the Bible
better than the Pharisees. But notice something else. The Pharisees drove Jesus
nuts. Certainly they “knew” the Bible but their hearts were unchanged.
Consequently, Jesus’ only mention of them was always as an example of what not to be. Klaus Issler is right – God
desires that we become Bible-hearted practitioners, not just Bible knowers.
Bible
“knowers” are easy to recognize in the church. They are the ones who are always
offering “helpful” criticism to others. The words that come over their lips
rarely “grace” anyone – rarely encourages or praises someone. Bible knowers not
only know their Bible. They know how to “do” church better than anyone else.
Fresh baked cookies for the fellowship hour, never store bought. The music should
be softer in worship or the pastor shouldn’t be reading from such a worn copy
of the Bible (this really happened!). It often surprises me just how many
Pharisees there are in the Christian church. And I stand with Jesus – they
drive me nuts!
If the truth
be told there is a little Pharisee in each of us. Each of us has had a moment
here or there when we want to offer our opinion – to be “helpful” of course.
But the best of us recognize those moments and cringe. We simply do not want to
be that way. So we try to be different, to change. The difficulty is that every
action, every thought and behavior and word spoken comes from the heart. Unless
the heart is changed, willful determination to change will always fail.
Heart
change is the work of God. It is not our work. Yet we do have a responsibility.
God’s empowering, formative “heart-work” in each of us is accomplished as we
place ourselves in accommodating circumstances. Simply, God requires time with
us in the silent places. Jesus demonstrated this for us time and time again.
Regular time alone with God reading scripture and prayer and sitting in silence
listening for God’s whispers in our hearts accommodates God’s work in us.
It is well
documented that sleep deprivation diminishes our mental clarity and physical
health. We simply require sleep. Similarly, “God deprivation” diminishes us
spiritually. Willpower alone can never carry the freight of living into the
character of Christ. We will always be defeated. Fortunately, we are never
asked in the Bible to live by our own strength. God changes hearts. But time
alone with God regularly throughout the week is required. If we give this time
to God, we will not be disappointed.
Joy,
Doug
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