Heart Matters
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13: 11-13
Happy New Year! I’ve been thinking instead of falling into the same old habit of coming up with a new years resolution for 2017,(one that’s sure to start fizzling by the end of the month), I should instead focus on tweaking my spiritual walk with the Lord. After all HE knows better than anyone what’s needed in my life for 2017 as well as what’s not. So why not start this fresh new year seeking Him and His perfect will in regards to becoming a new and improved you?! Now I’m not saying The LORD is willing to tell us everything HE has in store for us in 2017. I’m sure He has many blessings to bestow upon each of us this year. Also, I’m just as certain there will be some difficult and challenging circumstances along the way, all meant to stretch and grow us in our walk and service for HIM. As such, I have to say I for one am very thankful He doesn’t begin the new year showing us everything He has in store for us. I mean there have been some things He has called me to in the last couple of years that if I had known about them beforehand, He would have had to drag me forward kicking and screaming. (Yes I’m that child that sometimes the Lord has to grab by the bridle and forcefully lead into the direction He wants me to go). The good news is that thanks to Jesus, I am getting better at both submitting and surrendering to His perfect will for my life!
So as I pondered this new year with an eternal perspective I thought the best place to start is always in God’s Word. It’s full of wisdom and understanding, knowledge and instruction, reproof and correction, directives and commands-all for those HE loves and those who love HIM. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”Hebrews 4:12 God’s Word can lead us to Christ, help us abide in Christ, develop us for the cause of Christ, and change us to reveal Christ to others! God’s Word is THE TRUTH- It’s everything! Yes, as believers we definitely should begin 2017 more committed than ever to spend more and more time reading and studying our Bibles!
The Bible clearly tells Christians there are some things we should put on and some things we definitely need to put off if we’re serious about following our Lord. Usually when I begin a new year the things I want to put off go something like this: -the baby weight I’ve been carrying around for the last 19 years; -my love affair with caffeine, chocolate, and pasteries; -the procrastination I’ve been prone to all my life; -being a night owl who never wants to go to bed and as a result will always snooze the morning alarm-several times. And since like most I’d like to improve with every new year here are some of the things I’d want to put on:-anything that would disguise the fact that I’ve become middle aged and I’m actually now showing it, such as: hair color, false eyelashes, fad diets and a few new pieces of stylish clothing and shoes (I know pretty shallow right? Well I discovered growing old gracefully is not as easy as it sounds, although I am now committed to doing so); a consistent plan for a healthy diet and exercise because pre-menopausal hormones aint no joke (this one I can’t let go of because my body is insisting on it); trying out a new class/hobby such as pottery, foreign language, etc.
See some of these aren’t so bad, but what spiritual value do they have? Would it not be better to purge myself of the the things which matter most to God? Would it not be more valuable for me to focus on clothing myself with the articles the Lord instructs me to in His Word? I think so! The Bible says “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 Now I’m not saying that we’re not to take care of our physical bodies-we are. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19 However, we must keep it in perspective. “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.” 1 Timothy 4:8-9 Our outer man will one day perish, but our inner man will live forever!
So what about you? Are you ready to properly prioritize the “new you” for 2017? If so, then this post is for you! Let’s take a moment to look at how we can put off the old man and put on the new man. Let’s see how we can trade in our old ragged garments for brand spanking new ones. Let’s take a minute to stop and step behind the curtain so to speak for the most important costume change of all as we align our hearts with the heart of God! Let’s get excited about how HE Himself is going to transform us in the year 2017!
Okay before we look at what the Bible has to say about what we are to put off and what we are to put on, lets remember a couple of important truths: *We have to be in Christ and born of the Spirit in order to appropriate His Word into our lives (Romans 8:9, 14, 16; John 3:3, John 3:16, 1 Corinth 2:10-16) *Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5; Hebrews 13:20-21; Phil 1:6). *It is His Holy Spirit working in us that makes us even desire to accomplish His will (Romans 8:11, 13,16, 26-27) *We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinth 2:16) *Whatever we ask according to His Will, He hears us (1 John 5:14-15) *He makes all things new (2 Corinth 5:17). If you’re reading this blog and haven’t yet believed in Jesus Christ, then becoming a born-again believer should be your starting point for 2017.
I share these scriptures to say that we can’t obey God’s commands unless we have be born into the family of God through His Son Jesus Christ and we rely and depend on HIS Spirit working in and through us. Once we are found in Christ, our striving must cease. We can enter into His rest as we align our hearts with His will for our lives. He is able to equip and empower us to both put on the things He desires us to put on and put off the things He wants us to put off. So lets take a look at these things:
-PUTTING ON-
PUT ON CHRIST: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:14 Why? Because we are still in our flesh and only Jesus can overpower it. Because putting on Christ helps us not to make any provision for the flesh! Our flesh, which is our sin nature, is one of our greatest foes. Our flesh desires to do the opposite of what The Spirit wants. Our flesh can corrupt our walk in Christ and lead us into revelry and darkness, lewdness and lust, strife and envy (verse 13). When we put on Christ we will look like Christ, act like Christ, and reflect Jesus Christ to others.
PUT ON ARMOR: “…Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12b Does this remind you of another scripture? Yes! Ephesians 6:11-17 says we are to put on the whole armor of God! We are to: gird our waist with truth; put on the breastplate of righteousness; shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; take the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God). Soooooo we are to PUT ON OUR ARMOR! Why? Because we are in a spiritual battle every single day and we need to be prepared – not to fight- but to stand! Because our enemy the devil and his “spiritual host of wickedness” are on the attack with schemes and fiery darts. Without our spiritual armor we will be weak and vulnerable to our adversary who is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5:8).
PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE AND THE HELMET OF SALVATION: “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 We need to have faith, love, and salvation on us! Why? Because without it we would turn to wrath. Because the apostle Paul said we should not sleep but should watch and be sober because we are of the day and not the night (see verses 1-7). Once again we see we are to be clothed in armor. Faith and Love protect our hearts and our Salvation protects our minds!
PUT ON THE BEAUTY OF A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 Why? Because this verse says its very precious in the sight of our God! Why? Because it makes us beautiful from the inside out! Why? Because it gives us the ability to influence and win our own husbands even if they do not obey the Word!
PUT ON THE NEW MAN: “and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24 Why? Because it’s the true you!
PUT ON (THESE): “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:12-13 Why? Because of what Christ did and does for us!
PUT ON LOVE: “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Colossians 3:14 Why? Because love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10) and because others will know us by our love for one another (John 13:35).
-PUTTING OFF-
PUT OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS: “….Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.” Romans 13:12b-13 Why? Because our identity is in Christ Jesus and therefore the works of darkness are not becoming to us. And yet because of our flesh we are susceptible to committing them. Have you heard of any Christians whose testimonies have been ruined or greatly affected because they have given in to such works? Unfortunately, I’m sure you have. The enemy knows if he can get Christians to look and act like the world (revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, lust, strife and envy) even though they will still live eternally with Christ they will have little to no impact on the world for The Lord. So you see there’s a lot at stake here.
PUT OFF YOUR FORMER CONDUCT: “…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind..” Ephesians 4:22-23 Why? Because we bring all our old evil habits and ways with us when we come to faith in Christ. We have to be aware of them so that we can reject them and pray to ask God to help us get victory over them. We have a new identity in Christ Jesus and the power to overcome the old man which is our sinful flesh.
PUT OFF LYING: “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25 Why? Because The LORD is The Truth. And because God hates a liar “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:18-19 When a person gives in to lying- trustworthiness, loyalty, and integrity all go out the window.
PUT OFF ALL OF THESE: “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” Colossians 3:8 Why? Because verse 9 explains these are all the deeds of the old man.
PUT TO DEATH: This scripture was just to serious to leave out. Here instead of saying “put off” Paul uses the terminology “put to death”: “Therefore put to death you members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Colossians 3:5-7 Why? Because we are no longer our old selves in bondage to sin. We have been made free by the precious blood of Jesus Christ!
Happy New Year! May the year 2017 be all that the LORD has purposed for it to be in your lives and the lives of your loved ones! We have lots of work to do right? Wrong! Jesus Christ has lots He wants to do in us! Will you purpose in your heart to agree with Him, cooperate with Him, and allow Him to do all He desires to do in you for 2017? Amen-let it be!
HEART TO HEART: REST IN HIM (BY WALKING CLOSELY WITH HIM) AND HE WILL DO THE REST!