Changing the Heart

I am going to take a break from the "Insight series" as this week I am a little contemplative.  Every year around Father's day I begin the process of looking inward and evaluating myself and who I am in light of who God created me to be.  It is interesting that when we do this, we tend to look at the superficial things.  "How do I look?"  "How well am I liked?"  "Have I achieved the level of success that I desire?"  I am reminded in these moments that ultimately in the eyes of God, none of these things matter in the slightest.  This is why 1 Samuel 16:7 is so interesting.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Apparently there is a fundamental difference between how we see others and ourselves and how God sees us.  And here we are told what the fundamental difference is - God sees the heart.  Man sees the outward. 

This is not really surprising when we think about it, after all, the only heart I have any ability to truly know anything about is my own.  I cannot see your heart.  You cannot see mine.  We lack the capacity to see to the inner man and even our insight into our own inner self is skewed.  But there is no such lack in God.  In fact, it clearly says that God looks past the outward appearance to see what is truly there.  This thought is echoed in many ways in the Scriptures.  God does not want mere outward conformity, he wants heart change and inner change. 

So at the end of the day, if I am more concerned with my outward appearance than my inner appearance, it is a fairly good sign that I am more concerned with the will of other people in my lives than I am with what God wants of me.  If I am more concerned with how my inner man looks, than I am valuing what God says about me more than what people around me say.  May we all seek to please God first and foremost and worry a little less about the outward appearance and work on allowing God to change our hearts. 

Insight from our Singing - part 8

"You need this car."
"This pair of headphones was created with you in mind." 
"Everyone else has one but you."
"You are not anyone unless you have this stereo."
"Everyone will notice you when you wear these sunglasses."

Every day we hear hundreds of thoughts that tell us that this world is a place that was here for our existence and pleasure.  We think from a very early age that the world revolves around us and that everyone else is here for our pleasure.  Honestly, we all want the world to revolve and think that when people disagree with us, they are clearly not on board with the program! 

We need a corrective to this, and for many that corrective is the golden rule. Our president recently cited this rule to accommodate immorality.  The problem is that the golden rule will not ultimately solve our problem because at the end of the day we use the golden rule to correct the behavior of those around us because we have not fundamentally solved the problem at the core of who we are.

This is why we need songs like "All Glory Be to Christ."


Should nothing of our efforts stand, no legacy survive,
Unless the Lord does raise the house, in vain its builders strive.
To you who boast tomorrow's gain, tell me what is your life?
A mist that vanishes at dawn, all glory be to Christ.

His will be done, His kingdom come, on earth as is above,

Who is Himself our daily bread, praise Him the Lord of love.

Let living water satisfy the thirsty without price

We'll take a cup of kindness yet, all glory be to Christ.

When on the day the great I am, the Faithful and the True,

The Lamb who was for sinners slain is making all things new.

Behold our God shall live with us and be our steadfast light,

And we shall e'er his people be, all glory be to Christ.

You see, it is not about me.  Or you.  It is all about Christ.  May we live the truth of this song and live to bring honor and glory to Christ alone.

Insight from our Singing - part 7

Every now and again I need a good reminder that Christ is victorious and reigns over all that is.  Even though that reign is yet to be finalized, it is no less real now than it will be then.  When we see the world around us falling apart, or when we experience the kind of pain and turmoil that causes us to question ourselves and the very quality of our faith, we need songs that remind us that Christ is victorious.  "Victory in Jesus" is one such song, but this song focuses more on the victory that I have in Christ.  Which is why I am so glad that I came across a song called "Onward March, All- Conquering Jesus".  Just think about that title.  Christ is marching forward toward the conquest of His campaign to have every knee bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  And we get the privilege of watching His glorious campaign unfold before our eyes. 

Sure, it often times does not seem as though Christ is winning.  After all, this feeling was no different for His disciples who watched Him hang on a cross, and yet it was no less true then.  And it is no less true now. 

Onward march all conquering Jesus, Gird Thee on Thy Mighty sword.
Sinful earth can ne'er oppose Thee, hell itself bows at Thy word.
Thy great Name is so exalted Every foe shrinks back in fear
Terror creeps through all creation when it knows that Thou art near. 

How my raptured soul rejoices that the Jubilee is near.

Every word will be accomplished, spoken by our Savior here.

North and south in countless myriads, from earth's darkest ends they come

With the dance and gladsome music, into heavens eternal home.

I want to draw your attention to the second line of that first stanza and ask if you believe it to be true this morning.  "Sinful earth can never oppose thee, hell itself bows at Thy word."  Take that truth and dwell on it as you look forward to the content of the last verse - heaven and an eternity spent with Christ.  The reign that Christ will have then we can know now if we will surrender our lives to Him.  Is Christ reigning victoriously today in your life?  Is He your King?  May we not wait until our knees are forced to bow, but instead willingly surrender our lives to the Conqueror of all things.  It reminds me of Colossian 1:18, "He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself will come to have first place in everything."

"In everything."  That is what Christ is in first place and ruling over.  All things.  Even the things you are going through today.  Let Christ be Ruler!

Insight from Our Singing - Part 6

I have been thoroughly enjoying our traverse through some of the songs of the faith.  It is amazing how when we sing there is a deep connection between theology and feeling - perhaps unlike any other connection between these two.  If I mentioned that I wanted to talk about theology, few would listen.  But when I put theology to music, we not only sing it, but it stays with us!
The next song selection in our series will be one that I have enjoyed using as a theme song for a study we are working through in Nehemiah.  I believe that it captures the essence of chapter 9 although the scriptural quotes it uses are from Job.

Who has held the oceans in his hands?  Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at His voice.  All creation rises to rejoice.

Behold our God

seated on His throne, come let us adore Him.

Behold our King.

nothing can compare, come let us adore Him.

Who has given counsel to the Lord? Who can question any of His words?

Who can teach the One who knows all things? Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds?

Behold our God

seated on His throne, come let us adore Him.

Behold our King.

nothing can compare, come let us adore Him.

Who has felt the nails upon His hands?  Bearing all the guilt of sinful man?

God eternal, humbled to the grave.  Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign!

Behold our God

seated on His throne, come let us adore Him.

Behold our King.

nothing can compare, come let us adore Him.

I love this song.  Perhaps no words ring truer than the ones in the third verse.  God has born the guilt of my sin through His Son who humbled himself to the grave!  And that same Jesus is risen now to reign.  Not to just live, but to reign.  Jesus Christ is the rightful ruler of all that is.  This gives me great hope even when things do not look so hopeful.  Jesus Christ, Savior of my soul is risen to reign.  But this means that I must surrender to His reign in my life.  Behold our God.  Come let us adore Him!

Insight from our Singing - part 5

Complete in Thee!  No work of mine may take dear Lord the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and now I am complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee!  I die to sin.  Thy grace hath conquered, reign within

Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee, And I shall stand, complete in Thee

Complete in Thee!  Each need supplied and no good thing to me denied

Since though my portion Lord will be, I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Dear Savior!  When before thy bar all tribes and tongues assembled are,

Among thy chosen I will be at thy right hand, complete in Thee.

These are the words of a hymn called "Complete in Thee" the lyrics written by Aaron R Wolfe.  The thing that strikes me about this hymn is the simplicity of both the lyrics and the consistent message that occurs throughout.

Have you considered today that you are complete in Christ.  That you have no need because you have everything that you need in Christ.   When we understand this truth, it puts into perspective the things that we think we need.  These things seem to pale in comparison when we place the things we think we need next to the list of things that God has already provided:

     1.  Pardon from our sins.   - God has completely forgiven your sins, but at the cost of the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.  And Christ was willing to die for you!  What a blessing!

     2. We have victory over sin - not only are we pardoned, but God has provided a way out of every temptation   (1 Cor 10:13)

     3.  God provides us with all things that we need.  - We have all that we need for life and godliness in the Word of God.  God promises us that He will meet all of our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus!  Think about that for a minute and try and complain about the fact that the situation in your life is inconvenient.

     4. And ultimately, the best gift that God gives us is the right standing before Himself that allows us to know that we are complete in Christ! 

What a blessing to know that we have these and many more gifts from the giver of all good things.  I need these reminders in the midst of the difficulties that I face.  Perhaps they will encourage you as well this day!

Insight from our Singing - part 4

Some songs, while familiar, become so familiar to us that we lose the impact of their meaning.  I think that sometimes in church we put ourselves on autopilot and could sing what we sing without even giving so much as a thought to what we are singing. We can sing "Victory in Jesus" while feeling totally defeated.  We can sing "Nearer my God to Thee" while feeling distant from God.  This is why I love singing thoughtfully.  And the other day as I was humming a familiar tune, I was reminded of the words.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt
Yonder on Calvary's Mount outpoured
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt

Grace, Grace God's grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, Grace God's grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.

And that is just the first verse!

When we think about the grace of God, do we truly fathom how marvelous it is?  How impressive the grace that forgives and exceeds all of our sin and our guilt.  What a glorious truth.  The sin that we take so lightly was covered by the grace of God at Calvary and therefore our sin and guilt are obliterated before a holy God.  This means that we do not have to live in fear, but in the glorious freedom that comes from knowing the truth about who we are and whose we are in Christ.  This kind of knowledge frees us to live like Christ intended - striving to serve Him, not out of fear of a punishment that has already been paid for by grace, but out of a sense of love and joy and commitment to the one who has freed us from our slavery to sin through His glorious grace!  Praise be to God for the grace that He so freely has bestowed upon us.

Insight from Our Singing - part 3

We need more laments in Christian worship.  Do not get me wrong, I love songs about the victory that we have in Christ or how happy we are.  But this does not express the full experience of the Christian very well.  There are difficult times as a Christian.  Times when it does not feel as though God is listening or even there.  Times when we wish we could curl up into a ball and just cry.  This is why we need more laments - songs that cry out to God when things are bad and we are hurting.  And that is why I love the song, "Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul."

Dear refuge of my weary soul, on Thee, when sorrows rise,
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, my fainting hope relies.
To Thee I tell each rising grief, for Thou alone canst heal;
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief for every pain I feel.

But oh!  when gloomy doubts prevail I fear to call Thee mine,

The springs of comfort seem to fail and all my hopes decline.

Yet, gracious God where shall I flee, Thou art my only trust;

And still my soul would cleave to Thee though prostrate in the dust.

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face and shall I seek in vain?

And can the ear of sovereign grace be deaf when I complain?

No, still the ear of sovereign grace attends the mourners prayer;

Oh may I ever find access to breathe my sorrows there.

Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat;

With humble hope attend Thy will and wait beneath Thy feet.

Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat;

With humble hope attend Thy will and wait beneath Thy feet.

With these kinds of songs we can feel free to cry out to God with a broader scope of emotions and be more honest about how we are truly feeling.  "Victory in Jesus" is a great truth, but sometimes the world does not feel like a victorious place.  So we can turn in darkness to songs that express deep truths about following after God when it hurts.  I love the line, "Yet gracious God, where shall I fell, thou art my only trust."  We can only trust in a sovereign God in the midst of good times, and in the midst of times that are bad.