Starting with the Heart
I wish I could tell you that, when it comes to living spiritually, I had it all figured out and never had any real issues to work through. I think a lot of people consider preachers and elders some type of “super-Christians” who never have any problems or temptations to work through. That’s far from true.
Recently, I had another conversation with Leah that she may barely remember, but in which she helped me (again) with an issue that few, if any, know about. (Don’t get too excited…I’m not about to confess some terrible sin in a blog post!)
We were simply talking through a situation–and it was actually a really happy one–when I admitted to her that I was struggling with one aspect of it. It had to do with something no one else would ever know, because it was an issue of the heart. It was more of an attitude issue, and it simply was not right.
She, in her gracious way, listened lovingly and gave me comfort. She was right in telling me that I needed to do better and gave me some advice. The whole conversation probably only lasted 2 or 3 minutes, but I remember it as I write these words later because it was important to me.
Now, why I am I telling you this in a blog post? It’s because I doubt I’m the only one who struggles with “inner” things.
Isn’t that one of the major thrusts of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount?
- For the vast majority of people, murder is just not that big of an issue…but what about hatred?
- Most people who are married will not actually cheat on their spouse…but do they still keep their sexual thoughts pure only for their spouse?
- I may not hate my enemies…but do I love them?
The Bible regularly speaks to these issues of the heart because that is where it begins. Sins like lust, bitterness, anger, jealousy, and pride can be hidden away from the view of others, but they are poisoning our own souls. They divide relationships. They cause us to see others as objects.
And they are utterly dangerous, because they are keeping us from giving our whole heart and whole mind to God. These sins are a way of saying that “this” part of my life is mine and I deserve it to be mine. Instead, all of my life–even my heart life–should belong to God.
Will we always get it right? Of course not. And in those times we don’t we need to be able to have someone we can talk to, as I was blessed to have with my sweet Leah. Above all, though, we need to confess to God and ask Him to remove these things from our heart.
It can be done. And when it is, the liberation that we feel is unexplainable. We are not just free of a sin that others would know about. Our hearts are free, and that’s as good as it gets.
Receive All Our Posts Through Email For Free
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
