The Desires of Our Hearts

Sometimes we become confused when placing our requests before the Lord, particularly when He does not grant the desires of our hearts. There are times when He seems not to answer. There are frequent delays, denial of our prayer requests, or seemingly no answers at all.

Those of us walking with our Lord and serving Him as best we can soon must deal with Him concerning the desires of our hearts. It takes spiritual growth to understand His ways in all of this. How are we to understand spiritually what His desires for us really are and the mysteries of the responses we receive? What are we to do with the many desires we have, for others and for ourselves, that we take to the Lord in hopes of a positive answer?

Psalms 37 beautifully guides us:

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Psalms 37:3-5 NASB

Trust, delight, commit. That is the formula. We know that God answers prayer! But when first reading this, perhaps as beginning babes in Christ, we think we can ask our Lord anything and He will grant it. We delight in being able to go to Jesus with all of our requests. This is as it should be! He made the way for us to be in a relationship with our very loving Father, who delights in our communion. We are to come to Him as little children would, in complete trust and faith.

This is how we learn to trust and delight in our Lord, to commit all our ways to Him. Jesus Christ made the way for us to talk with our Father by spirit. Our Lord is continually interceding for us in our battles and experiences, being in constant communion with His Father about us:

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 KJV

Jesus Christ intercedes to save us, clearing the way back to Father God. It’s restoration to God that is His plan and process. Looking back on our lives, we see His hand in the interests we have, the choices we’ve made, even when we thought it was our idea! We learn that we can count on the desires that HE places within us being fulfilled.

He creates each of us with certain purposes in mind, planting these desires in our hearts. Yes, He does answer prayer! As we mature on our walk with the Lord, however, we realize that His desires vary from ours, that God’s answers to even the deepest desires of our hearts is not always yes. He loves us and He is faithful to answer but it may be: “Yes.” Or “No.” Or “Wait.” Or “I have a better idea.”

God’s answers for our desires in this life—a life partner, a child, a home, meaningful work, specific and even critical needs—depends upon the purpose He has ordained for our lives.

Yes!

When we hear God saying yes to something we most desire, it may seem easier to handle than the rest of His possible answers. We celebrate with an hallelujah and go on to enjoy it, right? But wait. We may hesitate to fully embrace the yes we had hoped and pleaded for God to grant us. It can be a bit daunting to trust that it is HIS voice saying yes rather than our own strong desire and will to hear that affirmative answer. We may fear that it is too good to be true!

God does give us good things according to His purposes. When we have been waiting, when we have had previous misery and loss, God may need to teach us how to receive with thanksgiving and joy, how to be happy and trust this wonderful affirmative answer to our heart’s desires. God has many ways to confirm and reassure us, including putting out a fleece as Gideon did when he wanted to be sure of God’s direction.

In the Old Testament, Gideon was very cautious and concerned when he heard God say he was called to defeat the enemies of his people. The desire to defeat their oppressors had burned in the Israelites’ hearts since they were captured by the Midianites. They had ruled the Israelites for seven long years. God told them that this defeat was because of their disobedience in worshipping idols.

Not unlike others called by God for an unexpected and very important purpose, Gideon did not think he was eligible or qualified for this calling. He never dreamed God would choose him to lead the charge. Gideon’s first response was to tell God immediately why he wasn’t the one for the job. Though he desired a victory over their enemies, he felt ill-equipped, based upon who he was, a person of no stature in the eyes of others.

Gideon joins many others through the centuries in waiting and searching for God to give victory when oppressed. Think of all the prayers the people had been praying, all of those seven years, for God to deliver them. When God seems to finally say YES, Gideon questions it.But in His time, God chose Gideon, calling him a mighty warrior when he knew he was no such thing.

Here’s Gideon’s story, told in this NIV version in a way that sounds like how we might in similar situations:

“The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’

‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.’

The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ ‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the weakest in my family. The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.’” Judges 6:11-23 NIV

It was difficult for Gideon to believe this message because they had been asking and asking. He’s heard of all the miracles God did in the past, but he, Gidion, has yet to see them. He can’t see what God sees in calling him and feels inadequate to the call. Isn’t that just like many of us when we first hear from God about a very critical matter that we had no idea He wanted us to be dealing with, let alone leading the charge?!

Like Gideon, we struggle with God’s reassurance that it is Him, that all we need is the God of the universe with us. Gideon puts out a fleece, and since that time, other believers who doubt God’s calling for them have similarly asked for a sign of confirmation that it is Him. It can be surprisingly challenging to believe that God is granting the desire of our heart.

God knows we do this to be certain of His word and direction. God is patient with our doubts and unbelief. He knows when our hearts sincerely desire confirmation that it is His will. This is a common response when He drops something into our spirit that we had never considered doing nor feel prepared to take on. When God begins to speak to us about doing something new, something not in our awareness previously, we may be hesitant.

And we are in good company when we do so. Consider Sarah when Abraham told her God said she would conceive at age 90. Consider Elizabeth’s husband,Zechariuh, when told his wife would conceive after many years of barrenness. Often it is something we have long desired, perhaps even secretly dreamed about, but have little hope it will ever happen

As with Gideon and his fellow Israelites, what we wanted itbut never dreamed God would use us in bringing it to pass. Gideon was a nobody and he certainly did not view himself as a mighty warrior! God told Gideon he would succeed because God Himself was sending him. It did not matter what his external rank and qualifications were.

We too may feel ill-equipped to do the calling, the mission God sets before us, just as Gideon did, but that matters not to God. All that Gideon needed was to know God was with him and was sending him, but Gideon was unable to immediately believe it was God talking to him. Gideon respectfully replies to the Lord’s messenger with his doubts and concerns. He needs more time and confirmation.

God was not surprised, as He knew what was in Gideon’s heart. He knew that Gideon would need more assurance from the Lord to believe and obey. Gideon required proof beyond what he heard the angel, this Messenger of God, say to him, to launch out in God’s directive. This was particularly so since the outcome was so critical to others, so long desired by Israel but remaining unfulfilled.

“Gideon replied, ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will wait until you return.’

Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.

The angel of God said to him, ‘Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.’ And Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace.” Judges 6:36-40 NIV

After Gideon’s offering is consumed, he is finally assured that it is the Lord speaking to him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he blew a trumpet to gather others to join him in fighting the Midianites. Why did the people listen to Gideon, this lowest of the tribe of Manasseh, not known for their leadership? Obviously, God told him what to do and what God says to do, works!

God was with him or they would not have heard his call to war as a message from God. Later, Gideon asks God for one more sign of confirmation before he leads the Israelites into battle. He needs certainty about the task and its promised outcome of victory. After all, this was a life and death situation and the Israelites had not seen a victory for some time:

“Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised, look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.’ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.’ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.” Judges 6:36-40 NIV

As the story continues in Judges Chapter 7, we read how God directs Gideon’s every step, even showing him how to successfully spy on the enemy by listening in on their plans. God tells Gideon exactly how to bring about a successful attack. He even reduces the number of Gideon’s army to 300 men. Who but God would reduce the number in His army?!

The Lord directs Gideon to choose only those who drank water while still scanning the area for their enemy. Is this not symbolic of the balance we are to have, drinking the water of the spirit while staying alert for the enemy of our souls? It’s doubtful that Gideon could think or imagine all that God would do through his obedience. He had to repeatedly hear the promise of victory from God.

But think of the joy the Israelites had in this great victory for which they had waited so long. We may think or imagine what the Lord will do, but His reality is so much better! When HE says we are mighty warriors, He makes us into just that! He makes the timid strong and the weak able to lead others to victory. God does talk to His people, then and now.

The Lord still directs our paths in very specific ways as we learn to listen and to desire His will above all. God is the best strategist there is, whether it is how to fight the enemy in times of battle without or within, or with anyone or anything else that comes against us. It may be our professional or personal opponents, or our inner spiritual enemies stealing our peace, love, and joy. God has the weapons of warfare that we require by the spirit for every single plan we must undertake.

When faced with a new task, big or small, God knows the best steps for success in what He calls us to do. He knows how to fulfill His will in us. And sometimes His will for us is exactly the desire we have in our hearts. Look what God did with Sarah, Elizabeth and other barren women who sought the Lord for a precious child. Each of these women birthed God-ordained children who were a mighty part of His plan.

Some of His own people might be quite surprised at just how specific can be His answers. After all, He is invested in our success. Like with Gideon, He assures us of victory in many things before we even do them. He can choose to act without people, but that is not His way. He gives us the great honor, privilege, and responsibility to carry out His will in many matters, big and small, that impact lives on this earth.

When we hear God’s YES, we often still talk it over with Him. Not everyone has conversations with the Lord like Gideon, but He knows how to communicate His desires and plans to each one of us when we have willing hearts. Are we ready and willing to hear His will, to even set aside our own will when required? Then we can count on the Lord to do His part in communicating what He wishes to do.

After all, doesn’t He want us to know His will? When our hearts are as open as possible, we will hear what He is saying. And when we have heard the affirmation that our request has been granted, we then, like Gideon, ask His direction in proceeding or wait patiently until this most important desire unfolds as Father God make it a reality.

He is a good Father and grants many of the desires of our hearts, including some surprising plans He plants within us to fulfill our calling.

No!

What about when God’s answer is no? When He firmly shuts the door on something we so wanted and thought we required, it can lead to quite a struggle between flesh and spirit. We may not have the maturity necessary to immediately lay down what we want in surrender to Him. We protest in anger and disappointment, searching for why not? We may go further in trying to persuade Him, just as a child who hears no does.

Even we adults cry and get depressed when we hear the Lord refuse to grant a desire we hold deeply in our hearts. This is a critical area of spiritual growth for maturity, and we have many examples of old testament leaders who proceeded with something in which God had expressly said no. Our rebellion may start with listening to the enemy’s lies: “See, the Lord does not really love you. You are not good enough for Him to grant what your heart longs for. He can’t really do that anyway.”

We begin to diminish what God is capable of doing, despite His multitude of promises and blessings. Gideon had seen much defeat, so his first reply sounds accusatory: “So what have you done for us lately? I heard about your past great works but I haven’t seen them!” Have we ever thought that or even said it to the Lord? Many of our spiritual fathers and mothers lived in more glorious times of seeing God’s miracles than many of us have now.

Years ago, a wonderful minister, Rev. Emil Boktor, was visiting our home and fellowship from Egypt. He asked us what miracles we had experienced since his last visit to America. When we had no examples, he shared many with us. He proceed to gently but pointedly state that the Christians in Egypt, a persecuted minority, need miracles and therefore, they get them.

Christians in Egypt learn to rely on God’s miraculous provision for their daily needs, unlike America, where suffering and deprivation are more uncommon, even hidden from many. When God says no, some believers also blame it on the devil, that enemy of our soul. Others explain away their disappointment and ongoing loss by stating that God has just left us to our own devices and has no power to change things.

Because we do not understand Him or His ways, some use human reasoning to conclude that He’s a loving but powerless God who cannot intervene. There’s even a book that takes this approach as a way to explain why bad things happen to good people. Thus we diminish our all-powerful God to something we can comprehend. It is no comfort when we know God is more than able to anything He chooses to do.

Reducing God to our understanding is of little assistance when believers seek to comprehend and accept God’s decisions. It takes maturity to understand God is all powerful, in charge of the darkness and the light He created. Father God’s no is for our good. He is protecting us, like any good Father, from things that are not the best for us and the path we are to take.

Check out Job’s afflictions and the hollow comfort of His friends when he lost everything by God’s hand. They said, among other things, that it was his fault that he lost everything. He maintained that it was God with whom He had to deal. He never once blamed satan or turned to any other power to understand what had befallen Him. God, in turn, dealt with Job’s complaints as well as the ineffective counsel given by his friends:

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge? Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if you understand. Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?’” Job 38:1-7 BSB

God goes on to remind Job of Who He is and all He has done since the beginning of time that Job, or any man, could not possibly understand. All through Job chapters 38, 39 and 40, God chastises Job for questioning His ways and contending with the Almighty. He lists all that He has created and accomplished, far beyond anything humans can comprehend. Job’s wise response is to humble himself before the Lord:

“Then Job answered the LORD: ‘Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth. I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.’” Job 40:3-5 BSB

God goes on through more chapters to remind Job and his friends of His mighty power and majesty. All of these things are far, far beyond Job’s understanding in making his complaints to God. God challenges Job:

“Will you really annul my justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?” Job 40:8 BSB

Our human reasoning does just that. We malign God’s character as well as His promises when His acts do not fit with our understanding of justice and fair treatment, let alone our particular desires. Remember, Job did nothing to deserve what happened to him. God said Job was righteous and allowed all of these calamities to befall him as a test. It certainly does not sound like justice to wipe out every blessing Job had, especially since God Himself said he was a good man.

It is just so in this life. Much of what God allows to happen to us, though we may have prayed for and believed the opposite, is not of our own doing. It is a consequence of living in this sin-filled world. God allows such adversity for our good. Humans have choices and some of them bring harm to believers as well as unbelievers.

Job is not the only one of God’s servants to go down this path. We may join Job in assuming we know what is happening and even that God is wrong in what He’s allowed. We use our carnal minds instead of the holy spirit to understand and justify ourselves about what happened to us. When our hearts are bruised and weary with overwhelming loss and pain, we pull God down to our level.

We may argue that we are innocent, undeserving, treated unfairly, or believe God is less than Who He is. We forget that Jesus was innocent, undeserving, treated unfairly, allowed to experience the worst to occur to Him, God’s only begotten Son, because of Father God’s purposes. This, then, becomes a lonely place because the God of all comfort is the One who allows these things to happen.

It’s difficult to go to someone for comfort thinking they could have changed the outcome and have chosen not to do so. How angry and betrayed we may feel, but eventually, we must humble ourselves and yield completely, confessing that we do not understand His ways, just as Job did:

“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak. I will question you, and you shall inform Me.’ My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I retract my words, and I repent in dust and ashes.’” Job 42:2-6 BSB

Job truly sees God, repenting and changing his mind before Almighty God. The contrast between what little he and his friends know and all that God is becomes glaringly apparent. He is the God of the universe, this Lord with whom we have to deal. God is a master at humbling us when we need to be humbled. Often it is in the privacy of our conversations with Him, but occasionally it happens in the presence of others.

He is God and we are not. After Job was humbled, God chastised Job’s friends for not speaking the truth about Him. Unlike Job, they did not speak accurately about God and His ways with Job. Their well-meaning attempts to help their friend led to speaking from their own reasoning, not God’s truth. How we require His wisdom and knowledge when severe suffering comes upon us or another believer.

We need more than an eternity to understand our God and His ways!

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again?

For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36 KJV

As with Job, we are wise to yield, to surrender, regardless of our limited understanding. We need to say, as Jesus did in Gethsemane, “Not my will but Yours be done.” The more quickly we surrender our will to what God is saying and doing, the more quickly our wayward emotions will come in line with that surrender. Our acceptance of God’s no, our submitted will, is like an anchor we can hold on to when our thoughts and emotions buffet and sway us in the matter.

Then it begins to sink in that God Himself is in charge of every aspect of our lives. Other people cannot overrule what He allows to come and buffet us. When we wrestle with acceptance, resisting surrender, we find ourselves in a battle we cannot win. Anything that we resist just grows stronger, prolonging our suffering. With our resistance, we are focusing on what we want that He is denying or has taken away, whether big or small.

Our self-focus and desires grow stronger as we hold on, rather than surrender to the refusal God has given as our answer. If it is within our power to proceed without God’s blessing in the matter, when we think we know better than God, we definitely will suffer more, as many Biblical examples reveal. When Christians take matters into their own hands, what follows are lessons of pain, loss, and regret.

God is not surprised and is always prepared for the willfulness of His children. We have chosen to learn God’s lessons the hard way, which some strong-willed people seem to require. And we all can be strong-willed in desires we are determined to have fulfilled, insisting on our rights, seeing them as essential to our happiness and wellbeing.

It may be surprising to discover we are among the strong-willed when God says no, but remember, this is about the deepest desires of our hearts. God has just said no to what we most desperately want. When we insist on pursuing the desires of our hearts that He is not endorsing, we bring pain and sorrow to ourselves and others. Most of us, sadly, have gone this way at some point or another.

When God says no, the sooner and more completely we yield to God’s answer, the more quickly He is able to remove that desire from our hearts so it no longer plagues us. So many seem not to realize that God cares about every aspect of our lives. He is able to direct the desires of our hearts in the path He has chosen for us. More specifically, He not only works a surrender to and acceptance of His will, but we learn to trust that He does know best for us, far beyond what we desire at that time in our lives.

This is how we learn to trust, then delight, then commit our ways to Him. He is building our faith every time we surrender to Him, regardless of understanding why. He is able to turn a resisting heart into a willing heart:

“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 NASB

Wait!

Sometimes when we are considering an action or a choice, seeking an answer to a specific desire, God’s reply to “Wait” launches another growth process. Learning to wait with patience, to postpone gratification, brings more refinement of our spiritual character. He is working the gold of His nature into our hearts, developing patience, the fruit of the spirit within us, through the refinement of being in God’s waiting room.

In God’s waiting room, we can wait with resentment or fear or wait with patience and peace, learning to trust in faith. Self-control when waiting for God to deal with some issue in our lives, particularly something we strongly desire, is one of life’s most essential lessons. To illustrate, there are revealing short videos on social media of little children being tested by having to wait a few minutes for a treat.

Parents put candy in front of their child(ren), telling them they cannot eat it until they get back in a few minutes. While the camera is on these little ones, they struggle to obey, to wait for their treat. Some successfully pass the test of waiting, whether patiently or not. Most have at least a little struggle, picking up the candy to look at it or smell it.

Others don’t even bother to struggle, stuffing the candy in their mouths as soon as their parents are gone. It’s cute to see these little ones and their contrasting reactions, even between siblings. But it is not so cute when the child who so easily yields to temptation becomes older. For some of these children, self-control issues will arise unless they have further growth and practice in controlling their desires, learning to delay gratification. Then it is no longer cute but problematic and brings future adversity into their lives and to those who love them.

We have so much immediately available to us in our modern society, these qualities may not be as well-developed for many of us in this present age. Learning to postpone gratification, waiting with patient endurance for God’s will to unfold, is a part of spiritual maturity. Some of us adults are still asking the Lord to strengthen our patience in waiting and our self-control to resist running ahead of the Holy Spirit!

These essential godly characteristics Father God, if not our own parents, work within us because life is full of waiting. We need this fruit of the spirit in our lives. When we live in a society where so much instant gratification is possible, the wait for things to unfold in God’s time in this eternal kingdom seems like ...well, like an eternity! We all have had this struggle in our own childhoods and in raising our children.

Whatever is forbidden, whatever is not allowed that others have, whatever a child begs for but cannot yet handle, the parental no seems to increase the desire to have it. Sadly, it is not just children who have such battles. Many of us Christians feel exactly this way about the rules and limits we believe God has put in our path.

Adolescents will often test limits and be attracted to what is forbidden, though it changes generationally and from culture to culture. It’s not about what is right or wrong, so much as it is about what is expected in that culture, the norm. Look at any culture and teens are drawn to whatever is forbidden by the adults. Interesting, isn’t it?

But when we ask God what is the best way for us, our path of life, He will show us, including to wait for His perfect timing. He made each of us and knows we do not all need the same things or have the same challenges. With God’s leadership, we gain wisdom and patience to guide our ways. These times surely work very important truths into our hearts. God sees the struggle in our hearts when we want to wait with patience but have a hard time doing so.

It may seem like God is doing nothing while we are waiting, but He is working out things for our good. Waiting on God for direction, to show us His path of life changes the desires of our heart to the desires of His heart as we yield to Him. God is making changes inside, in our character, as well as changes in our circumstances according to His plans, while we are in His waiting room.

God’s answer is always on time but not our time. As one song line says, “God's been IN time, ON time, EVERY time for me.” (Belinda Lee Smith). It’s a most inspiring song, reminding us of all the times He has come to the rescue of those who love Him though we think He tarries. We are also told to forget not all His benefits. When we must wait, a wonderfully blessed way to encourage ourselves and others is to count our blessings with a thankful heart.

We delight in all His past goodness to us, the answers and ways of escape, often by the spirit, when we need it. We recall His words of promise, His character of mercy and justice, and learn to trust while in His waiting room. We thank Him for the answers we do not yet see, and we learn to accept His timing rather than ours, delighting in our Father God and His wonderful Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. God will not be rushed and it does seem that He likes to show up at the last moment when we think it is almost too late!

Abraham and Sarah were in their 90’s and childless, with Sarah past childbearing. Then God shows up to give them Isaac, the promised seed! God is showing forth that it is He, not people, Who is in control. The majesty and glory is His and our hearts humbly bow in obedience to Him. We can wait with frustration, resentment, and bitterness or we can wait with faith, gratitude, and patience. Either way, God is the same and cannot be manipulated.

“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 Berean

Notice the qualifier at the end of this scripture: we can go through trials and not learn from them. Wait, what?! Is this perhaps why we seem to go through the same things over and over? Most of us would prefer to pass our test and move on to the next trial. The key in this passage is allowing God to train us in times of discipline when we are waiting on God. All Christians have things big and small we are waiting on God to address and correct, looking for the time in God’s plan when His promises to us and all creation will be fulfilled.

When the discipline is to wait, it is painful but He is teaching us through it all when we are willing to learn. The requirement is to pass the trials and tests in this situation, learning the lessons He is providing so we can harvest righteousness and peace within. This is why God may leave us in difficult circumstances for a period of time, rather than immediately delivering us. We think He is not hearing or caring about the situation when He is strengthening us through it.

It is somewhat disappointing to realize that the very thing we battle, that we may fear, comes upon us to strengthen our character. God always cares more about the inner man of the spirit than our outer circumstances. This inner change lasts while a change in circumstances, including getting what we want immediately, does not. We can pout, even try to plead and manipulate our Lord to get our way, but He is one Father who cannot be manipulated!

He will do what He will do, bringing redemptive justice and compassionate mercy in every situation. It is Who He is and, as we see with Job, He does not always choose to explain Himself to man. He is God and we are not. Eventually, He will release us from waiting upon Him, and the answers will come. We may have a long period of waiting while He is arranging things perfectly on our behalf.

We may not see what He is doing or the answers that are coming, but they are on the way. And when the answers are revealed, then we usually can see why His plan was the better one. There are certain things in our lives that we want or believe that we need right now, but after the wait, hindsight brings gratitude that God did things in His time. The more quickly we surrender to Him, the easier the wait gets!

Sometimes God grants insight into what He is doing and sometimes we are in the dark until the answer is revealed. We may need to be reminded, as Peter tells us, that with the Lord a day is as a thousand years.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8 KJV

He’s in eternity and we are in time, creating a vast difference in perspective. But what He does provide or accomplish after we hear a yes or a no, waiting longer for His plan rather than ours, is so much better than we could ask or think. God’s ways are eternal, in no way limited by time. Aren’t you glad?

“I Have a Better Idea!”

“I have a better idea” is another answer we may hear from God. There are countless times when God will take our plans, the desires of our hearts, refining them into something so much better. In this process, we experience doors being closed that we thought were open to us. We may feel that He has given us a no, but eventually we see the new door that is open to us.

Once again we are enabled to agree that His plan is better than ours, by far! It should not surprise us to have Him provide an alternate plan that is so much better than anything we could have imagined. In God, endings are new beginnings, just like death led to resurrection for our Lord. The law ended by being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God is a master at showing us “Do this, not that,” by the spirit. When He is leading, when it is His plan that He has put in our hearts, we will have trials but we will succeed. The storms will come, but we will survive, emerging victorious through Him.

God takes us through life’s storms much more often than taking us out of them. More than once, His alterations in our plans are a complete surprise to us, including the specific way our calling in Him continues to unfold. As with Gideon, God is able to assure us of success because He is our help, as the prophet Isaiah says:

“Because the Lord God helps me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame. The One who vindicates me is near. Who will dare to contend with me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against me? Let him approach me!

Surely the Lord God helps me. Who is there to condemn me?” Isaiah 50:7-9 BSB

Even more challenging are times of testing where the heavens seem like brass and all our prayers bounce off the ceiling of our understanding. God may have a better idea but we sure don’t know what it is. He may be saying wait without responding but we don’t realize it. We need to recall that all of God’s responses to us are for our good because that is His nature. He is there, loving us, even in those silent times when He seems far away. These, too, are part of His plan.

But it is devastating to think or feel that He is no longer there for us when we are unknowingly in His waiting room. Someone described these times as God going a little further ahead of us, waiting. We may also have received His answer but rejected it, so it seems He is not answering when He already has. Whatever the reason, there is that gap of time between when He tells us His plans and when they happen.

These are times of testing and yet, some saints wait their entire lives for God to fulfill specific promises to them. Think of Abraham and Sarah waiting all those years for a child, only to have Isaac promised when Sarah was long past childbearing years. Think of Joseph, who suffered much for many years before he was put in a position of rulership during the years of famine, allowing him to feed his brothers who had betrayed him. Consider the wait King David had from the time that he was anointed King to when he actually began to rule.

God had a path of life for each, spoken by a prophet but wait came first. There was a period of preparation, of training through adversity before He finally revealed His promise and purpose. There was a long season from when Joseph was sold into slavery and when he once again met his brothers. Joseph was not that young brother then knew,. They may not have been the cruel jealous siblings they were in the past, either.

There is often the word of God about the future, then a season of time, even ages, before seeing the outcome of what God has spoken. Consider this beloved verse from Romans:

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 AMP

We remind ourselves, if not God, of this promise when difficult times fall upon us, when adversity seemingly prevents our progress or when unexpected loss occurs. Is God true to His word, this word that all things work for good, or not? Do we love the Lord? Are we called unto His purpose, this purposeful path in our lives in His kingdom? Is He still working on our behalf despite what it looks like to us now?

Victories did not come easily in biblical times and they don’t often seem to now. When God feels far away, it does not matter whether we hear or feel Him. What does matter is His Word. We recognize that our feelings are not consistent with God’s word. We remind ourselves of Who He is and what He has said. This challenges the lies seeping in our hearts that feel like abandonment, rejection or loss of His love.

We learn to settle in our hearts that He is Who He says He is, merciful, loving, and just. We stay committed, regardless. He is God and we are not. His promises are true, no matter our present circumstances or lack of understanding of His ways. Our thoughts are below His and our understandings are limited as humans. At such times we go back again and again to His words of promise and hope, strengthening our faith in such adverse times in our spiritual walk.

It is the most delightful experience to feel God’s presence within us and around us, but we do not need to depend on that feeling. Faith is not dependent upon our fluctuating feelings. Aren’t you glad?! He promises never to leave or forsake us. Period. That word is certain and eternal:

“God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.” Psalms 46:1-3 AMP

Selah. Pause and weigh this. Whatever happens, His faithfulness endures forever. When everything else is shaking, He is the same. The Lord takes us through adversity so that we learn more of His eternal faithfulness and mercy. His promises of love comfort us in our dark times, when we cannot see our way and God seems to be standing still. We wait, knowing that He will be our light, able to dispel any darkness with His very presence.

He will show us the path of life:

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8 NASB

This scripture challenges any habit we may fall into of railing against the darkness. When we indulge in this unproductive behavior, our focus is on the darkness rather than His light. This is like some Christians constantly battling the devil in their daily lives. They risk focusing on the enemy or the battle rather than on the Lord.

The Lord is our light, and there is no darkness in Him. Below is a short chorus that became the first song God gave me, years ago, and is still a comfort to me. At the time, I didn't even know that God being in the darkness was in the Bible, yet the truth of it still rings in my spirit.

When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

There will be no sorrow or mourning in the night.

The Lord is IN the darkness, He will be my light.

(B. Mikelson, 1977)

We do not have to pretend there is no darkness or no enemy of our souls, but we are not to dwell upon it. We are to keep our eyes upon Him and what He is working out in this better plan He has for us. His light swallows up our darkness, causing it to disappear. When God writes on our hearts as we keep our eyes, our gaze on Him, things begin to change. We have faith and trust as we look for this new idea, the new thing God is about that is different from what we thought or planned.

If we are truly growing in the Lord, the desires of our hearts very much change from our beginning walk with Him. A child desires childish things, things that are understandable, even appropriate for that child’s age and development. As that child grows, those desires mature, becoming less selfish pursuits. Just so, the beginning desires of our hearts, often for external things to meet our own wants and needs or take care of concerns for those close to us, lessen over time.

We then become able to recognize and trust this scripture operating in our hearts:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Matthew 6:33 NASB

When we get our priorities straight, putting the Lord first, He provides all that we need as we wait upon Him. We need to be in the spirit and know the truth as we worship our Lord. He is spirit and truth. We are learning to trust that God is in charge of the desires of our hearts. We can anticipate many changes in these desires of our hearts as our walk with the Lord continues.

As we age, many things we thought were so important in our youth fade in importance. They just do not matter any more. In the light of His glory and grace, we learn true submission, with deep gratitude to our God who does all things well. We grow in our ability to rejoice through our ongoing lessons in God’s spiritual school. We learn that His thoughts and ways, His better idea is always better than ours. His ways are higher—of a higher purpose—than ours.

As our earlier desires fade away, particularly for possessions, opportunities, or experiences that others have or enjoy, God is maturing our character by changing our hearts. So very many things are no longer important to us. We prioritize His peace and rest in His kingdom above all.

There is much that God has promised that we have yet to see. We cry out to Him when our earth is ending within us:

Hear my cry, O Lord, attend unto my prayer;

From the ends of the earth will I cry unto You.

When my heart is overwhelmed,

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

That is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter unto me

And a strong tower from the enemy.

When my heart is overwhelmed,

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

That is higher than I.

Psalms 61 (author of melody unknown)

It is always about what He is teaching us. What is the lesson here? It is all good because that is Who He is. If we always had light, we would not know about our Lord being in the darkness with us. Whatever His answers are to the desires in our hearts, He has us covered. There’s not one of us who escapes God’s dealings in the midst of His blessings. This shows we belong to Him.

We learn our lessons through the path of processing that He plans for us. Our hearts are eventually so changed that the peaceable fruit of righteousness becomes apparent through it all. May we encourage each other on the way!

Principles of Spiritual Sharing

“You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 ESV

Quick to hear has much wisdom to teach Christians, especially us talkers! God is a talker, too, and has always been. But He wastes no words like we do. There is no idle chatter from Him. Though it is more difficult for some than for others, this is a key part of learning to be led of the Lord.

Being quick to hear means being ready to understand. We enter any conversation with the intent, the heart motive, to truly hear the other so we understand before we react or respond. Oh, how difficult that can be! However, there are rich blessings in learning to be slow to speak.

When we pause and really listen, we have understanding that a quick reaction does not provide. When we are slow to speak instead of anxious to talk, we allow time to hear from the spirit, to be guided by Him in our responses. We learn to yield our immediate fleshly reactions, even those rationalized as right or justified, to His way of handling things. We wait upon the Lord for His guidance and direction before we respond.

On our path of life to becoming like our Lord Jesus Christ, we long to be just like Him in only speaking what the Father speaks. He is more than able to change this in our hearts, for which we are deeply thankful! Through the pruning process of His two-edged sword, the Living Word that brings the fire of change, we edge closer to being like Him, daily gaining ground as He changes our hearts.

Some of us need many cautions as we learn to stop useless or profane chatter with others, and even with our God! Often I have prayed for spiritual duct tape over my mouth while God disciplines what I say. God has also reminded me not to tell all I know. A flood of words, no matter the wisdom of them, washes over the listener without giving them ability to connect, to learn.

And when we find ourselves in an argument, God reminds us that His desire is for us to listen so that we really hear. Some of us believers are always anxious to speak, to correct, to explain, to defend, to minister to others, including—or perhaps especially—in Christian gatherings. Yet this passage exhorts us to be quick to hear, not quick to speak.

This speaks to purposeful listening, hearing with the intent of gaining understanding. God wants us to grasp what the issue really is, the root of the conflict. Listen for understanding! More than one conflict becomes totally unnecessary if both listen long enough to understand what the other is saying. Sometimes we are even in agreement and don’t know it.

Arguments may appear to be about something superficial but often, it’s more about underlying, intangible things like a sense of validation, respect, or being loved. And as one expert in marital conflict shared, it’s may not be about the rules as much as who will make the rules! There is a time for all things when we rely on the holy spirit to guide us.

Let us visualize our Lord teaching His Body of believers how to flow in unity in Him as if we are making heavenly harmony together. There are those who need a stronger voice. God is pointing His spiritual baton at these members of the body, directing them to come forth, more frequently to speak up rather than being quiet, only listening.

Others who are around these saints are missing out on the treasures God has within His quiet servants. We all know saints who rarely share, but when they do, we glimpse the gems of wisdom that might have been held back. God knows who needs to be brought forth, heard more ,and with a greater emphasis in this spiritual choir of humanity He is directing.

One need not share an abundance of words, but only when and what the spirit prompts.

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” Proverbs 10:19 ESV

Being prudent is acting with knowledge and foresight, using godly heart wisdom in sharing with others. All of the Body of Christ is precious, not just those who happen to have a platform, a designated function or role. Consider Paul’s beautiful discussion of the Lord’s body, how it is to function together, unified in love.

“The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you.’ Nor can the head say to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, whereas our presentable parts have no such need.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-23 BSB

Think of it! The parts of His body are all one, though differing in appearance, function, and form. We are not to give more honor to those who outwardly shine, but to those parts that are weaker, less honorable in outward appearance. This is not the way of man! We typically honor those who are visibly prominent: the leaders and speakers, the writers and authors, the talented worship leaders and musicians.

But God says through Paul that we are all needed! A further question to ponder before the Lord: could the unpresentable parts in the Body of Christ include those things that need to be covered in love by others until changed into His likeness and image? We will not be unified in doctrine but are to be unified in faith by love.

Paul does not talk about doctrine bringing unity and the reason is obvious. Doctrine brings division and God hates division. In creating spiritual harmony, God knows which of us need to step back, be slower to speak, learning to more perfectly wait upon God before sharing. With such as these, the Lord’s spiritual baton is giving direction to another while His hand is saying “Wait'“ to those who are too eager to share regardless of the holy spirit’s leading.

We may have many good things to say, but is it God’s timing to say them? Are those listening to us really hearing and understanding what we are saying as we flood them with words? Are others absorbing the wisdom and truth we have? Do they have a teachable heart?

“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV

We may speak the same truth, sharing the same wisdom, but our expression of it can greatly differ. We need discernment to look past a style of expression that is foreign to us, to the words of truth coming from the inner man. Differentness is not badness, it is just a differing expression of God’s truth.

In formal times of ministry, ministers who are sharing are to be respected rather than interrupted. God would have His own have some manners! When teaching and sharing in conversations with other saints, however, we may need to learn to have an exchange. Rather than holding forth like we do when the platform is ours, we are directed to become quick to hear.

When others do interrupt our flow, their intent may be seeking to understand or even share a gem we would want to hear. We are trained by the holy spirit to more perfectly prefer the other or to grant courtesy for others to speak, ask questions, comment—having a conversational exchange when there is opportunity to share as in a teaching ministy.

This is all part of that slow to speak scriptural message. We pause in our sharing of knowledge and wisdom to check for understanding. Are they catching the meaning of our words? Or are we sharing all we know without regard for its reception? What good is it to know and share a great deal of spiritual wisdom and knowledge when it is not reaching the hearts of of those we sincerely want to hear them?

God calls teachers of the word and He is the expert Teacher. He teaches us how to teach, revealing how teaching is a different gift or function from preaching. We most effectively and powerfully teach something that God has given us, whether in secular or spiritual settings, when God has taken us through something similar, when we have been tested on the very things we are endeavoring to impart to others.

“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.

And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.” Proverbs 4:7-8 BSB

Wisdom is supreme or, as the KJV says, wisdom is the principle thing. Understanding follows wisdom. That’s how Jesus Christ became the best Teacher, by the things He suffered as a man living in this earth. He went through all we go through, but in complete victory, without sin. That is why He understands and knows the way above it all, when to speak and when to hold our tongues.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15 NIV

When we hold back though God is pressing us to share, others are robbed of the wisdom and truth we have to share. And it is just as much a robber of the Body to say an abundance of words that are not understood as it is to hold back because we are quiet or intimidated by a stronger, more vocal part of the Body.

Either way, others sadly are missing the power of God’s word alone. His word never fails, it always does the work for which it is sent! Preachers need not act as if there is not enough time to share what God has given us. Is He not aware of the time available? Can He not pare down or increase His word that flows out so all is done decently and in order?

Even more sadly, when two knowledgeable Christians converse, it can deteriorate into a battle of knowledge instead of an exchange of wisdom. Each assumes they have what the other needs to know rather than that both may benefit from mutual understanding of each other. A peaceful discussion enhances rather than detracts from God’s truth in both participants, resulting in mutual edification.

We can learn to disagree openly and in love. It does not have to cause a conflict to disagree. We can learn to calmly say, “Help me understand…” or “I see that differently…” God’s way of peace will teach us how to settle all things, to truly be peacemakers who are called the sons of God.

We are all learning to wait to be led by the Lord, to sense His timing, to not run ahead, to discern if others have ears to hear our wisdom. Some are not ready, particularly for what Paul calls the meat of the word. Babies choke on meat; they are not ready to digest it for growth. It is not profitable to share wisdom that cannot be digested into spiritual growth.

We may also feel in a rush to correct errors, particularly if we are passionate about truth and, sincerely in our hearts, want others to have God’s truth. Father God is never in a rush (have you noticed?) so we learn to wait upon Him. Those who minister are able to learn to share just what the Lord wants, no more and no less, regardless of the time allotted.

We don’t have to be threatened by any viewpoint that differs from ours nor have a driving need to set others right. We are not required to either explain or defend God, His ways, or His truth. God leads by His spirit to come from a place of rest and interest in others as our brothers and sisters in Christ. What God has written on our hearts will remain. Error is continually dealt with by Him Whom we seek and His timing is perfect.

We are called, chosen, and faithful to what God has taught each of us while we wait for God's ability to bring the unity in love that He promises but has yet to be visible amongst the saints. In all things God brings a balance as we learn to be led of the spirit, which all sons of God are directed to do.

“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7 BSB

Are you able to visualize God with His Holy Spirit baton in His hand, directing those of us anxious-to-speak members of the choir, His heavenly band, to soften our intensity, hold back a bit, wait upon His timing, and stop when He is done speaking? Do you see His wisdom as He directs those of us who hold back to be more prominent, adding their part to the heavenly harmony of His spirit He is creating in our fellowships, our life in Him?

Can you visualize the Lord bringing a balance of all the parts, the smallest to the greatest being necessary and led by the spirit into unity? The principle is to do all things in love. It is something we believers hope to see and surely sounds impossible, but He will do it! When we are led by His Spirit, He has the power to create the most beautiful harmony we have ever experienced!

In our walk toward the full salvation God has promised, we are to be perfected by Him in all things.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 NASB

We cannot be perfected in our flesh, it has to come by spirit. It is my conviction that He continues to work on this within our hearts until we are perfected, whether on this side in our earthly existence or in our future dwelling in the spirit with our Lord. Notice that He does not say to wait until heaven to be perfected.

We are on this path to perfection here and now, shining our lights in the present darkness.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 KJV

If it is God’s will that we are perfect. complete in Him, you can be sure He will fulfill His will. We are not yet perfect, but He is working within us to achieve His will, to live out His promises, to reveal the life and character of the Lord Jesus while we enjoy our allotment.

Learning His principles of spiritual sharing is a vital part of our path to perfection. How we need one another! Oh, yes, there are enemies we must battle but they are not mortal men and women:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:1-12 NIV

Our enemy operates in the earthly realm of the soul, planting doubt, fear, anger and rebellion against God in our hearts and enmity towards one another. He appears in heavenly places to bring spiritual things down into carnality, utilizing the reasonings of man. But in every time and every circumstance, God will appear when we have eyes to see, to discern, and ears to hear in order to comprehend His word.

His appearance is not just a one-time event in the future. He appears daily in the midst of our hearts, wherein His kingdom dwells. Though it may be eons, He will have a people without guile:

“And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5 KJV

In this key scripture from the Revelation, when we are completely like Him, we are found to be without guile, faultless before Him. Here is a heart that is pure and clean, most pleasing to God. When the heart is right, not mixed with self, the words flowing from that heart are pure.

The theme of the condition of our hearts is critical to God from Genesis to Revelation, whether it is our hearts toward our Lord or toward others. It is God’s priority to make us a people with a pure heart. It takes God to teach us to learn to listen and to share along the way.

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45 NLT

A heart of righteousness like His heart has many treasures, but it does not develop from following external rituals and customs. It is not refined by adhering to rules and traditions about who is allowed to speak and teach, but from worshipping Him in spirit and truth. What defiles us is what comes out of our hearts:

“…Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ‘Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.’ Jesus replied, ‘And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, ‘Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”’ Mark 7:1-13 BSB

Have we forgotten this emphasis upon what is inside of a man with our focus on rules and customs, our religious and cultural standards of right behavior? God has a heart of righteousness and desires the same for His people. Out of the heart are the issues of life, regardless of differences.

Some don’t eat pork and others do. Some formally worship only on Sunday morning while others gather on Saturday. Some have set a standard for religious dress while others do not. Some only do water baptism as a sprinkling for babies, others do baby dedication or immersion.

We could go on and on, listing all these outward traditions that God says nullify, literally wipe out the power of His word when they are the focus of our efforts at righteousness. Regardless of our outward religious practices, God always sees when our hearts are far from Him. Words and behaviors that appear knowledgeable but are not worked as truth in the heart are laced with guile, useless and even damaging in His kingdom.

God would have a people who are enabled to spiritually share without guile, no hidden self-interest within seemingly benign conversation. Guile isn’t a very modern word, but most of us sense when we are being spoken to with guile. The Greek word for guile in this scripture is dolos meaning “decoy, trick (bait), wile, craft, deceit, subtlety.” When we have discernment, we see when this is the condition of the heart though the person does not admit it—or may not even know it.

Jesus’ example of those denying to honor their parents by making a rule that appears to do so but misses the mark is a prime example of guile. Words with guile are subtly manipulative, with an intent to deceive. The motive is to get something for ourselves, to make an indirect point that is hidden within, to protect ourselves in some way. It despoils the pure word intended to share the love and wisdom of our Father.

A heart without guile has been purified to speak as Jesus did. He only spoke what the Father speaks, with no ulterior, self-serving motives. All of our self-driven motives are to be purged from the heart before God’s throne. No seemingly holy but hollow religious words remain there, words that don’t match behaviors, words that stem from mixed motives.

The Lord has no guile, and we are to be like Him when we see Him as He is. As we continue our walk with the Lord, He becomes more and more precise about dealing with such heart conditions that displease Him. He refines us further and deeper to create the righteousness He desires from His people. Let us recall:

“Now the wisdom from above is first, indeed, pure, thereupon peaceable, lenient, compliant, bulging with mercy and good fruits, undiscriminating, unfeigned.” James 3:17 CLV

When once we would have said and done things with mixed motives, not thinking a thing about it, now we feel the prick of our conscience letting us know that we are falling short of God’s best, despite what our words appear to say. There are all kinds of reasons for our guile, but they all can be categorized within the lust of the eye, the desire of the flesh, or the pride of life.

We see something we want and we use guile to get it. It may just be another’s good opinion or it may be bigger than that. We desire to point out another’s error or cover criticism with outward niceness. We want to get our way or do certain things in our flesh that are not the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. We are not honest about it but subtly pursue it, none the less.

We may even reason with guile in our mind, will, and emotions, in our soul realm, rationalizing our behavior to ourselves, if not justifying it to others.

“All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:2-3 BSB

Guile is a part of the pride of life. It shows up whenever we use deceit and even trickery to get what we think is due us. Our faithful, wise Father goes layer by layer, allowing each experience we submit to Him to teach us His ways. Aren’t you grateful that God doesn’t deal with all of our motives at the same time? I thought I was a much nicer person until God began to strip the layers in my heart to purify my motives!

His ways are indeed not our ways and His thoughts higher than ours. We learn to be thankful when we sense the Holy Spirit’s prompting before we speak, to allow the spirit to examine our motives, the condition of our hearts. He is able to purify any guile within by the light of His spirit. As we continue, many areas become easier and no longer need intervention.

We continually pursue Him to speak only what He speaks, to rest in knowing that He enables our words to be effective and true, free of guile and pleasing to Him. We may seem far from this standard today, but as we follow on to know Him, He brings the refreshing rain of His spirit in times of change.

“So let us know—let us press on to know the Lord. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3 NASB

We are invited, encouraged to press on to know Him. Not the scriptures, not the law, not the do’s and don’ts, but Him. Right living comes from knowing the Lord deeply and intimately. It’s our relationship with Him, our Beloved. When He is our heart’s desire, when we pursue Him with all of our being, we find Him everywhere: in the scriptures, in others, in nature, as well as in our hearts of faith.

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Romans 14:19 KJV

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12 KJV

We are called by God in such a variety of ways and we are directed to spiritually share with one another, talking often about the Lord and what we are learning of His ways.

“At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.

‘They will be Mine,’ says the LORD of Hosts, ‘on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:16-17 BSB

He loves us all. Oh, how He does love us! We, the people who follow after Him, are near and dear to Him. He is quite fond of us! Therefore He is gracious to us and honors jus as we speak often one with another about Him. What is critical is our commonly held pursuit of Him, much more important, than our differences. God hates division, which stems from pride, lies, attacks on the innocent, wicked plots, evil behavior, false testimony, all that brings discord:

“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19 BSB

Do you see the sins of the flesh prioritized here? Yes, God hates sin, but He is quite clear about the source of sinful behavior: it comes from these attitudes, motives and behavior that He hates held within the hearts of people. The fruit of our doing things God’s way will be seen in visible evidence of the righteous heart of God in our lives. This is what we desire to produce, the fruit of His kingdom.

When what we share with others pleases the Lord, our own heart does not condemn us. There is a wonderful scripture about this:

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 NKJV

What a promise! This is the way of peace even with our enemies. We have the freedom to live before God as He directs, regardless of others’ opinions or disapproval as we are enabled to speak the truth in love. We have the peace of God in our hearts about all we do in God, while remaining mindful not to cause stumbling in another, our fellow travelers on the way to rightousness.

God will be manifested in His people, but how will God ever accomplish the unity among believers that He has promised if it is based on external things that just do not matter to Him? Without spiritual eyes to see, we remain blind, and without spiritual ears to hear, we don’t understand. We humans take in what we visually see, hear, and feel regardless if we are in the right heart space to discern God’s wisdom.

Our God, however, lovingly grants understanding when we need it, stretching our hearts across the gulf of strange differences between us, to unite us in love by the spirit. Amazing!!The key is not outward acts nor differing lifestyles. Many a vessel is walking with God while we remain ignorant of Who they serve.

Jesus and John had the same heart of service, remaining respectfully aware of the other’s calling and purpose in God. Both were called and chosen by God to minister to sinners, each carrying out their calling in different ways. What a model of brotherhood—and with a relative at that! Jesus and John were cousins, connected in infancy by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus and John met first when they were in the womb, connected by their mothers who were close cousins. God revealed to Elizabeth Whom her cousin was carrying in her womb. Following that, there is little indication of how Jesus and John the Baptist’s relationship unfolded until Jesus goes to be baptized by John. John expressed joyfin meeting his Lord and humility in consenting to baptise Jesus as requested.

Jesus honored John as well as obeyed His Father in being baptized by His cousin. They surely were in agreement about the religious leaders of the time, the scribes and Pharisees, whom they both strongly rebuked and chastised. Whatever their differing paths, each had a spiritual understanding and respect for the other’s calling. Both saw that these leaders had hearts that were far from the God they proclaimed to others:

“But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.

And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones, God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’

At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ ‘Let it be so now,’ Jesus replied. ‘It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness this way.’

Then John permitted Him. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!’” Matthew 3:8-15 BSB

Jesus is the Pattern Son, showing us the path of righteousness we are to follow. He was baptized, immersed in water to fulfill all righteousness—to do all things in the way Father God showed Him. He laid the pattern of His life down so we, too, are to be baptized in Him. Yet there are differing traditions and beliefs about what baptism looks like and how it should be done, leading to conflicts among us along with so many other outward differences in doctrine and tradition.

May I suggest that God is less concerned about immersion or sprinkling, infant baptism or baby dedication, and other differences that separate? He is much more interested in the believer receiving the message about the purpose of water baptism and other directives be written into our hearts. Water baptism represents the truth of being washed by His spirit, to be cleansed of the old and birthed into the new.

It is not merely a tradition, it is the way of righteousness Jesus revealed. If the heart is sincere, the act of baptism pleases the Lord, no matter how it is done. It is important to follow His lead, but how can the specifics be more important than the heart? Jesus was dedicated to God the Father as a baby and immersed in water for baptism by John the Baptist.

This is the pattern He laid down, but pure and peaceable wisdom honors sincere hearts of those who follow His example in the way they believe. God always sees the heart and will sort all of it out.

"For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 BSB

It surely is not good for such differences to cause division among brothers and sisters in Christ. There are endless ways we Christians do things differently while sincerely believing we are doing it God’s way. We will never achieve unity in focusing on these aspects of our faith and walk in God. It even more grievous to the Lord when we attempt to force our beliefs on another, including unbelievers, as we stand before our Lord.

Such conflicts are more about who makes the rules than about what those rules are. Who has the right to make religious rules for another? We need caution not to judge by outward appearance, as Samuel was tempted to do when sent to anoint Saul’s successor to rule Israel. God chose David, the youngest who was just a shepherd, the least of the 8 sons.

We all do it, making assumptions by what we see or hear though it is clearly not God’s way. God sees all of it, everything in our hearts. He is the sifter, the one who prioritizes what gets dealt with through His everlasting love for us. He is a true and faithful Friend who is always with us. We are so grateful that He loves us while knowing everything about us!

There is not one human on the planet who is empowered to genuinely love us like that without God’s love within.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

‘Galatians 5:1-10 NIV

Mark Paul’s words: the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love. The only thing! Circumcision was no longer required, in fact Paul saw it as adding a little yeast that would lead back to other Jewish laws now superseded by Christ. Christ fulfilled the laws, all those rules, whether it be the Jewish rules of law such as circumcision and not eating unclean meats or those religious traditions and rules that imposed externally on ourselves and others, robbing us of the freedom we are granted in Christ Jesus.

What we do in love is eternal, swallowing up former things that have never brought righteousness in the Body of Christ and never will. If God chooses to allow us to share with another, particularly about our differences, we are to see with His eyes of love and mercy as we gently and with humility share what we know and believe.

Offenses when spiritually sharing our walk in God come from the attitudes and motives of our hearts much more than our words. In sharing counsel or as an intercessor, the Lord reveals what we need to know in order to intercede and edify. He does not tell secrets. When entrusted with information about another’s inner being, we are to keep His secrets as well.

It can be tempting to want to share what we know, under the guise (guile) of helping another to understand or even as a prayer request. But God entrusts such precious information to those servants in whom He has confidence, through the testings of past experiences, to use such intimate knowledge wisely. What God reveals about another is to work for their good, their edification, the building up of His people.

God knows who will be able to move past judgment to mercy and redemptive justice. Again we are admonished:

“Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.

But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not destroy your brother, for whom Christ died, by your eating.” Romans 14:13-15 BSB

Could God be any more direct in this passage? Stop judging! Make up our minds to stop judging each other! Nothing is unclean in itself. If that is true, how your group of believers does certain things that vary from how another group of believers do it is surely not unclean! It’s the attitude of the heart that God sees as unclean, that the Lord is addressing in these words.

Acting in love is more important than what people are doing. In fact, this is a crucial factor in what we choose to do or allow. The love of God is the most powerful force in all creation! God is not looking at food, drink, dress, companionship, or even outwardly required patterns of worship and service to Him as the measure of the Christian. Our Lord is always and continually looking at the heart.

God is able to cover in love the errors we make as we share spiritually when we have His pure motive of love in the doing of it. When our motive is love, we won’t miss the mark with others in our spiritual sharing, just as He did not.

“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.

It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away…. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love. “

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP

Mercy, Not Sacrifice

“But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7 KJV

It’s challenging for us to realize in our present era what a radical statement Jesus made in telling the Jews of that time to have mercy, not sacrifice. The entire Jewish religion was about sacrifices to God. Jesus was bluntly stating that their entire way of worship, from generations of tradition and history, as taught by Jehovah, was not what God desired of them now.

The sacrifices offered by Jewish priests on behalf of the people were external acts meant to atone for their sins, but clearly did nothing to change their hearts. Through the centuries, the Israelites had continually drifted far from God. Their hearts were hardened towards others, far from the mercy and compassion God desires.

Jesus’ new covenant set forth a new order of the heart for God-followers. His word is still calling to us to lay down traditions and history, habits of worship and praise, patterns of fellowship and performance of rituals that have become hollow, lacking spiritual power.

Though it may not be animal sacrifices, many today rely on external acts sacrificed to God, such as doing good works, following rules and laws, church traditions and expectations of their leaders. Present-day outward religious behaviors cause many to lose sight of their relationship with the Lord Himself, along with His promise to change Christians from His kingdom within.

The word mercy comes from the Greek word eleos, meaning active compassion and tenderness. It appears many times in the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments. God’s essential mercy for us is shown in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, planned for our redemption from the foundation of the world. The gift of His son to the world is exemplary of what mercy is to accomplish. His mercy flows freely, forgiving all, showing forth compassion without blame or condemnation.

Because of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and restored to the Father. Because of our Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for the world, none of us get what we deserve! Our Lord clearly states His desire, His preference for mercy over any outward acts of sacrifice.

We deceive ourselves, if not others, when we continue with unexamined ways of serving God without meaning or power to change our hearts, our essential human nature. You are missing out if your faith in God is not changing you! When Christians look back on the days since meeting the Lord, we should surely recognize how our heart and character has been changing.

God is in the business of changing His own to be like Him. He can do what we cannot do. He is able to create in us His heart of love, mercy and faith. The Lord Jesus Christ came so that His words and His ways can be written within, by the holy spirit. Then He will be seen outwardly! Paul spoke passionately and definitively about this:

“But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NASB

Of course, sacrifice to the Lord, such as times of fasting and prayer, are a part of our walk as the holy spirit leads. Traditions can be meaningful when they come from the heart. The key is our purpose in doing so, in the motive and intent within for carrying such acts out. There are those who sincerely sacrifice something they love during the Lent season, for example, doing so as worship to the Lord.

There are others who do this as a rote law because it is expected or part of their tradition. Paul warned Timothy about following a form without the power to change the heart:

“...But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without the love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 BSB

The Amplified Bible states this even more succinctly:

“…holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.” 2 Timothy 3:5 AMP

Paul was talking about those who claim to be godly without the power of change dwelling within to create godly character. Words without power are a waste of time, accomplishing no lasting spiritual work. Paul lists many common conditions of the heart, then and now, naming many of the things we humans love instead of loving God and His ways.

God will not settle for His people merely appearing good and religious. He wants our all, everything in us. That is how we are gaining the power to overcome as He did to obtain all of the promises to the overcomers that He has outlined in Revelation.Paul was teaching Timothy that God changes us and that the godly change in believers is to be visible to the world.

Yes, God leads us to spiritual acts such as fasting when we sacrifice the pleasure of food and drink for a period of time. He calls us to fast and pray on specific occasions of intercession for others or ourselves. God puts in our hearts a desire to temporarily sacrifice our usual life’s pleasures, including the most basic-–food and drink—to be separate, alone, consecrated to Him and seeking His face.

If you’ve ever been lead to fast by the Lord, you realize it is a sacrifice. But a spiritual fast is not will worship, gritting our teeth for self-control. When God lays a fast on us, He locks us into this purposeful sacrifice for intercession or answers or deeper worship and understanding. He causes our focus to be on Him, not our hunger. It is quite different from dieting, to be sure!

The key here is what is in our hearts at such times as this. We recognize that all things are in Him:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’” Acts 17:28 KJV

God is the Father of us all. We are His deeply loved offspring and He is dedicated to raising us well. Though it takes a lifetime and beyond, we are learning how to live and move and have our being in Him. What if we submit ourselves to His hand in working true mercy , creating kindness, compassion, empathy, and understanding instead of outward religious busyness?

We learn to listen to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit as He works within us, being led by Him as we walk together. The distinction and volume of His voice is more apparent as we know the Lord more intimately and deeply. He works to create a clean heart, willing and to do His will and purpose from within.

When we know God wants us to have mercy but our flesh is weak, even disinterested, we can back up our prayers to where we actually are by asking God to create willingness in us. He is the changer of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Why pretend with the all-seeing, all-knowing God of the universe that we are willing when we are not? Father God knows.

This can be a particular battle when God is whispering to us to have mercy, to let go of a suffered wrong, to forgive when we are angry and hurt, or a myriad of other trials He allows to come our way. It is challenging when we sense God telling us to do something that our flesh really does not want to do.

 “A fool makes his vexation known right away, Yet a prudent man covers up an affront.” Psa. 12:16 CLV

How tempting it is to chastise someone who has affronted us, but is it not merciful, to cover up an affront? God is not pleased by a show of obedience, doing anything for outward appearance, to look like we are godly, out of fear of punishment, to become worthy enough, or to persuade God to do things our way.

Only God knows what is in the heart. He does not delight in outward acts, such as the Jews’ animal sacrifices that no longer have lasting power to cleanse the inner man.

Here is the future hope of what He is able to do:

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 NASB

Certainly mercy in the heart should parallel mercy in thought, word, and deed. No matter how far away we seem from this ideal, we continue to pursue being like the Lord we love. When we seek mercy, we are seeking God Who is mercy. He desires us to delight in Him, doing everything to please our God and making melody to Him in our hearts.

We need much more understanding of His mercy because it is far beyond our human ability. As soon as you believe you can be merciful to all, the Lord will bring someone who tests you in that. It’s easy to have mercy for those we love and understand, for those who are experiencing issues with which we are familiar.

It takes God to love the unlovable, to have mercy for those we do not understand, and particularly for those who cause offense and wounds to other. We are enabled by the Lord to have His perfect balance of mercy and justice. God’s merciful ways are hard to comprehend with so much wrong around us—let alone when He reveals what is within us.

God leads us from within, by His Spirit, beyond the expectations and confusion of our human condition. God is able to work His mercy within us for those we do not understand, those that our own soul would condemn. Our Lord is replacing our will, thoughts, and emotions— all of our soul realm—with His thoughts, emotions, and will.

Thus we are becoming more and more like our Master, just as He directed us. God is a passionate God! He’s not against emotions, He created them:

“‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will imprint my laws upon their heart, and on their minds I will inscribe them [producing an inward change],” Hebrews 10:16 AMP

This is the new covenant brought forth by Jesus Christ our Lord. God has always known that we humans cannot serve Him in our flesh. There’s no good or lasting thing in our flesh. The scriptures clearly state it is impossible to please God in our flesh! We all require the mercy of which Jesus Christ speaks and represents.

We are promised that He can give us His mercy, writing it in our hearts and minds so that it is lasting, changing our human nature forever. Such is the way to His fullness, to be delivered from working at it and brought into His rest. We are His workmanship, not our own self-improvement project.

As He does this inner work, we move past acting as if we have mercy in our hearts to a true inner change, showing forth the character and mind of Christ.

“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works,

which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” Ephesians 2:10 AMP

Of course, this is a very difficult transition! Wouldn’t it be easier if God just gave us a to-do list to follow? Or zap us into change as He seemed to do by changing Saul into Paul? The Bible puts many things on our to-do list that Father God knows we cannot do. He knew it in the garden with Adam and Eve and had already prepared before the foundation of the world for the sacrifice of Jesus to make the way.

When we love the Lord, we often do try to do it ourselves, to bring this flesh under submission to Him. It doesn’t work, have you noticed? We cannot command or will our stubborn, fleshly hearts to be merciful. Without our Lord’s coming within, all we have is outward acts.

When we ourselves constantly measure ourselves against the Lord’s character and ways, it leads to discouragement and fatigue. We are to delight in the Lord, and He will bring it to pass. There is only one measurement God uses, to which Paul speaks after the list of ministries given by God for the edification of the Body of Christ:

“…until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].” Ephesians 4:13 AMP

It is so easy for us humans who love the Lord to want to do what pleases Him, but how do we do mercy? God has no interest in an outward show of being a good and merciful Christian. After all, unbelievers do many acts of mercy and kindness. But doing acts of mercy that do not stem from the heart are difficult to sustain. Inevitably, our own mercy runs short for others.

Without the measure of the fullness of the Christ within, we all fall short, but nonetheless, this is what we are reaching for, why we pursue Him above all. We cannot even successfully measure ourselves, it takes God to do that, too. How hard it can be to rest in His work, with patient endurance, until He creates more depth in our love and mercy for self and others!

God has been about the business of teaching and changing us throughout our lives. Oh, how carefully He guides His own! God is in charge of changing Christians who desire to serve the Lord, creating mercy where there is none. He has prepared our paths and will enable us to walk in them.

He is mercy, He is love, and He is the beginning and end of all things within and without. His intent, even the disciplines of adversity and loss, is always redemptive, for our good:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 BSB

Yes, yes, it’s about the heart! Only God knows when we search for Him with our entire hearts. He sees any hidden areas within that cause us to fall short of the measure of His mercy. He provides a future and hope for us, making us know that all things are possible in Him.

Mercy makes a way when there is no way. Mercy considers the root, the heart of the matter, not just the act or behavior. There’s a higher purpose of God’s mercy seen in redemptive justice. And how wonderful to know that God cannot help but be merciful:

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You.

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all who fall and raises all bowed down.” Psalms 145:8-14 NKJV

Do you notice the word all here? Father God does not exclude anyone from His goodness and tender mercies. Mercy is revealed here with its specific qualities. David says that our Lord is gracious, from the Hebrew word channan, meaning “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor; show mercy; show pity.”

God surely is gracious to all of us, as David notes in another of his psalms:

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalms 103:9-14 KJV

Do you want a guarantee in life? Here it is. How very gracious and compassionate is our heavenly Father! It is very comforting to remember He knows what we are made of and considers that in His mercy. It’s wonderful to remember that He understands His creation. He is never surprised at our human lack and failure and has provided for this in His eternal plan.

Thankfully, He does not deal with us after our sinful nature, which Jesus dealt with on the cross. Yes, that work is done, but we are now learning to walk in all He accomplished. Mercy is the source of the Lord’s great compassion:

“The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, for His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

Our compassions fail but God’s compassions never fail or come to an end. They are always available to us and others, freely given, never having to be earned. Isn’t that what grace is, His unmerited favor? Why, then, would we think that others need to earn what we have been freely given, to shape up before they come to God?

Why would we expect sinners to behave as we are taught before they know Him? We do know Him and we often can’t get it right! When we wake each morning, we can rest in knowing the faithfulness of our God. His compassion renews each morning, regardless of what the day brings. He definitely allows do-overs in His growth plan!

Going back to Psalms 145, David states God is slow to anger and great in mercy. We know our all-powerful God could take us out of this earth in anger and disgust for what the human race has become any time He chose to do so. Jehovah God did this often in the Old Testament, but nonetheless, He is slow to anger, with a plan of redemption for all.

This is a different nature than the one some preachers talk about that creates fear and dread of an all-powerful and wrathful God. Their God condemns the faithless to an eternal hell, ready to inflict His anger in an instant for any wrongdoing. Actually, God’s wrath is His passion, meaning that He feels strongly about us and the world!

God loves this world He created so much, and yet it is difficult for us to be merciful, particularly when we see the ugliness and evil in human hearts and all the suffering this costs humanity. If God so desired, He could be angry day in and day out because of what we humans have wrought upon this earth. But He is not.

He is slow to anger…think about it! Here slow to anger means “long-suffering, patient.” We rejoice along with David that this is our Lord and King! He is good to all, whether they know it or not. He raises us up when we fall and lifts our spirits when we are low, just like He faithfully did for David, over and over again.

God hates sin but the sinner…well, He loves us passionately and eternally! And there is a special promise for being merciful, for allowing God to grow and nurture this aspect of His nature in us, His called, chosen, and faithful ones. It is clearly stated in the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NASB

When we sow mercy, we receive it back from God. What a deal! We can grow in God so far as to even become mercy in this earth. The chorus of a favorite song encourages us this way:

Sow Mercy

“Sow mercy. Sow grace.

Sow kindness. Sow faith.

Words are like water, sprinkled with love.

You will harvest all your heart's been dreaming of.

Sow mercy.”

(D. & R. McGuire)

What an awesome God we serve!

His Ways Are Not Our Ways

“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.

But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’” Romans 12:17-21 NASB

Our God says to leave retribution or vengeance to Him and He will repay. But when first reading this scripture of God heaping coals of fire on the heads of our enemies, it may sound like a great idea! We can trust God to get ‘em for us! But these burning coals are not to be brought with a vengeance taken into our hands. We are to endeavor to leave all that to God, seeking for peace, overcoming evil with good.

We need to get out of the way and watch how God deals with them. We can trust He will, having faith in what we do not yet see. Consider what motivates us to offer food and drink, literally or spiritually, to our enemies. If we are overcoming evil with good, we are doing it in God’s goodness, with His care for all.

When moved by the Lord to show mercy, kindness, and care to our enemies, we are heaping those coals of fire by bringing the fire of His wrath—His great passion—into the situation. We become passionate to do right in God’s eyes regardless of the role of this enemy in our midst. It is definitely the wrong heart motive to apply this scripture to exact our vengeance on our enemies.

God is in charge of any vengeance and His retribution is always just. He knows exactly what our enemies need to change them, now or in the life to come. We must know that God’s wrath is His passion, not His anger. It is indignation against sin, never the sinner.

The root word for wrath in Greek is orge, meaning desire or violent passion. God is deeply passionate about the world coming to know Him, for all to be reconciled unto His purposes. God is very, very passionate in His great love in redeeming all who miss the mark. He has a fiery passion for everyone to be in a relationship with Him. Oh, how He loves all of us!

His retribution is perfect, just as He is perfect. He strongly, passionately desires us to receive and walk in the fullness of all Christ has accomplished. Just so, His fiery passion is directed at our external enemies to change them for good, on this side of heaven or in the afterlife. He is promising us that He will deal with our enemies with His redemptive justice and mercy. God is not a man that He can lie.

Our human judgments get in the way of God’s actions in dealing with our enemies. If we act with vengeful delight in response to our enemies, they cannot see God through the condemnation we are placing upon them. Our personal loving compassion for others we care about may also get in the way of what God would choose to accomplish in discipining them.

We are not to pray away the fire that God has set to change others though we surely can pray them through it as the holy spirit leads. If we attempt to rescue others from the fire God’s presence is bringing, we lack understanding of God’s ways. We do ask God to be with everyone with a heart of forgiveness and peace with others, even our enemies, but God knows best what needs to unfold and when.

We are not to take into our own hands what is only God’s business. We should not get in the way of God’s intentions! Our Lord’s walk on this earth models this for us. Jesus knew His enemies could only do what His Father allowed them to do. We can learn to rest in that and be sure it is fitting, doing the work He intends.

Even when being betrayed and arrested, Jesus said that all He had to do was ask and His Father would send a myriad of angels to rescue Him. That was not God’s plan. He knew His Father was in charge and not those who betrayed Him. Vengeance is His, so if there is to be punishment, including consequences, He knows what is redemptive for our enemies.

How many words have we wasted in our relationships when the other person is unable to hear truth, though it is correct and right? What if their receiving of our truth is hindered by impatient, angry, blaming, and even disdainful attitudes in the heart impacting the spirit of our words?

God always sees the thoughts and intents of our hearts when we want other people to be punished rather than redeemed. Words are very important but God desires more than words spoken to others. We are to speak truth in love; that is His way. Human vengeance, particularly without God’s balance, is not only ineffective, it makes things worse.

Our vengeance, the desire for punishment of others who have wronged us, distracts the person from the truth. Yes, indeed, God does tell us in this passage and others to get out of His way! Vengeance here is from the Greek word ekdikos meaning carrying justice out. Is there anyone more just, more right in their doings, than Father God?

Yes, this word includes the intent of punishment, which God is capable of doing when necessary. Father God, Who is love, is carrying out this justice. His vengeance is sure to deal with sin and wrongdoing, and His word is powerful, far different from the angry words that sometimes feel so good to say, but accomplish nothing.

Behavior has consequences and we are not to tempt the Lord by doing something to put Him to the test. His words are power and they are life.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV

God does not chastise people because He feels like it, had a bad day, can’t take any more, or all the other reasons we justify our behavior to others as we are prone to do. His purpose is always to bring about a change, to purify rather than punish. God wastes nothing in His redemptive purpose. He has no need to pay back those who harm or wrong us, though He does allow natural consequences to occur.

This life is our training ground, designed to teach us about God through adversity. As we mature in Christ, we recognize God’s work when others wrong us undeservedly. His purpose is for our character to be refined as well as for the wrongdoer’s salvation, even if it takes ages.

God brings His purifying presence upon our enemies’ heads, their understanding. He brings the fire of His presence to consume what is not of Him. Of course, nothing can stand in the presence of our Lord without being changed. As Peter stated, our God is a consuming fire. He promises to burn up our dross—everything that is not Him.

The author of Psalms 119, believed to be David, stated:

“It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” Psalms 119:71 BSB

No, God’s ways are not our ways, but they can be! We need to consider what is in our hearts as we deal with our enemies, those who come against us or those we love, to hurt and harm us. And how shall we deal with those who do love us yet cause wounds and harm? We learn to ask God immediately “What are you trying to teach me? What are the lessons for me in this situation with those who are hurting me?”

We surely do not want to miss any of God’s lessons for us when we are dealing with external and internal enemies to our promised spiritual land of righteousness, peace, and joy. One key lesson from the Lord is to learn from His heart of forgiveness. The process of forgiveness can be a challenging experience for us Christians, yet our Lord says we are to do so, over and over, many times:

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!’” Matthew 18:25 BSB

This number is not a requirement to count until we get to 77! It is representative of the countless times we are to forgive our brothers in Christ, sometimes harder to do than forgiving our enemies! Jesus shares the parable of the Master who loans money to two servants. One is mercifully forgiven when he cannot repay but goes right out to deal harshly with someone who owes him. The Master is most displeased about this!

The other servant, after the Master dealt graciously with him and forgave his debt, is merciful to his debtors. The unforgiving, merciless servant is then punished by the Master, putting this servant in jail until he pays the last farthing. Mark my words: when we are unforgiving, we pay a price! We live in a prison house of our own negative emotions.

What judgment we have for others is what God will put on us. The point:

“That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:34 BSB

God is not pleased with mere words of forgiveness. He desires true forgiveness from the heart. We are debtors who have been forgiven much by our Lord. So, too, should we forgive those who transgress against us as the Protestant Lord’s prayer states. The judgment we put on others is how we are judged. God says so.

God doesn’t want us to just go through the motions. He wants this forgiveness to be deep within us, a true change in the thoughts and emotions, in the intent of our hearts. He is the only one who can work such a change in wounded hearts and lives, regardless of circumstances.

It is foolishness to believe we can harbor unforgiveness and even hate without paying an internal price. When we refuse to forgive our brother in Christ, we are building our own jail of anger and thoughts of revenge, sometimes for many years. Those who have been grievously harmed, suffering great loss, may live in perpetual distress in mind and body when unable to forgive.

Unforgiveness is a robber of peace and love, for sure! Circumstances vary greatly so this is a work that the person takes to God, who works amazing forgiveness within a willing believer’s heart for the most heinous and damaging acts. Only God, in His mercy, can work forgiveness in such hearts, reminding us that our Master has graciously and repeatedly forgiven us for our transgressions.

We know of such saints gifted with godly forgiveness for circumstances far beyond what many of us experience. The early martyrs both suffered horrendously, dying most painful deaths, with God’s forgiveness for their enemies on their lips, just as Jesus had when He was dying on the cross.

We know we are supposed to forgive, but where do we start if we aren’t willing? It’s surprising how many Christians strongly condemn the sins of the flesh yet harbor unforgiveness, resentment, and even bitterness in their hearts towards others. It may seem like forgiveness is letting the other off the hook, excusing or even condoning their behavior. There are times when we know He says to forgive but honestly, we just don’t want to!

Sadly, this is not reserved for just our enemies. It’s often found in our hearts towards those we love—our family and friends as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ. Lack of forgiveness brings much harm to human relationships. That’s why God told us to keep our hearts clean, not to go to bed angry, to prioritize having a pure heart toward others.

Every one of us Christians need to exercise our spiritual forgiveness muscles to be ready for implementation! We can trust that Father God has us covered when our hearts do not want to do things His way. When we don’t want to forgive or can’t see our way to do so, we can count on His ability to change our will to match His will:

“...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…” Philippians 2: 12-16 NASB

What great news! When we are not willing, God works on our willingness! He does this when we ask—and sometimes when we don’t, because someone else is praying for us. He starts where we are, creating in our hearts a desire to do His will. We may be reluctant, but He is able to change that so we can forgive without grumbling and disputing, ruminating and resenting, with inner rebellion in our hearts.

As we see how our ways are not yet His ways and do not please the Lord, we might as well be transparent with the Lord by acknowledging honestly where we are in our hearts. God already knows but we surrender further to His inner working when we admit it to Him. Where there is resistance, we ask Him to plant a willingness. There are deep hurts that wound in devastating ways that cannot be rapidly resolved, but we can surrender to His will regardless of our feelings.

We do desire deliverance from our soul’s struggles within but how long it takes depends upon the hardness of our hearts in the situation as well as the grievousness of the wound. In any and all circumstances, our will is surrendered to God, becoming an anchor for our soul into God’s will.

While our thoughts and emotions may sway the rope back and forth on that anchor, our will to do His will sustains us in the purpose and process of forgiveness. We are to forgive as we have been forgiven–freely, without merit or worthiness, without conditions, as unto the Lord.

None of us are deserving of God’s mercy or able to earn His forgiveness. But we may use our human reasoning to justify why another does not deserve our forgiveness. We have many reasons, all humanly understandable. We’re still too hurt and angry, we want to protect ourselves from more hurt, we want justice or to see the other suffer before we forgive, it is absolutely unforgivable, they deserve retribution, and on and on.

Through this, God teaches us about His ways in our struggle to forgive. We find God’s way instead of holding on to hurts, resentment, anger, unforgiveness or even bitterness. We all have family, friends, teachers and fellow Christians whose behaviors and choices cause undeserved suffering and pain.

One cannot be in this world without having incurred offenses. The load may become quite heavy as these increase in life. God says, “Don’t carry it! Release it to Me. Rest in My ways to bring about change.” Yet some people still carry resentment and bitterness about a sibling or parent’s past behavior, cut off or continuing to fume, bringing up old transgressions, still believing they got away with something.

Yet unless we see into the heart of the one who hurt us, how can we know what God has done in them? They may have repented and we do not know of it. Confusion around the process of forgiveness is very common but be clear about this: when we carry unforgiveness in our hearts, we become the burdened ones, in bondage to our soulish will, thoughts and emotions.

The guidance of the holy spirit is also necessary when wanting to support others struggling with the directive to forgive. Just telling someone they should forgive only applies a surface band-aid to an infected wound without cleaning it out first. It becomes a law rather than a process wrought by the holy spirit. With deep and grievous wounds from this life, a deeply damaged heart may not be ready or able to hear.

Yes, forgiveness is God’s command for us, made possible through Jesus Christ our Lord. But He goes beyond the law of forgiveness to creating a heart that forgives. Forgiveness is too important to apply as merely a cover over a festering wound of emotions. We should not lightly or casually say, “Well, you need to forgive” when we have no understanding of the situation, no discernment from the Lord.

Horrendous, seemingly unforgivable, things happen to others that are far beyond our experiences and understanding. It takes God’s wisdom and time to understand, let alone assist others in this process. When we don’t know why such things are happening to a fellow believer, it’s best to stick with what we do know.

And we do know that it is not that God does not love them! While children need to be taught forgiveness by word and behavior, mature Christians cannot have the fruit of the spirit fully manifest in their lives with mere spoken words. When we are the offended ones, it becomes even more challenging if the person continues in hurtful ways, showing no remorse.

But God does not make any exceptions in His forgiveness policy. His forgiveness is unconditional—no conditions! His love truly has no limit, His grace no measure. We do not get a pass on forgiveness because others continue in their hurtful or harmful ways. God may allow or even cause the relationship to end as a consequence of the other’s continual harmful behavior—but the heart still needs to forgive.

Consider a woman who is in an abusive, violent relationship. There is the daily wear and tear on a person’s entire being of being ridiculed and mistreated, threatened with or experiencing physical harm, the fear of being abandoned and alone. Such a woman may need to leave in order to keep herself and her children safe.

This is the heart of the matter for Christians who are praying about being seriously mistreated, abandoned, abused or living in violence with no safety within or without. What is God leading them to do, inside their hearts where they listen for His will? Many would keep such a believer in bondage to another, to follow the law against separation or divorce.

But there is a time when those in prison are set free. God, in His mercy and grace, releases His called and chosen to go further in His purposes. To be truly free, the survivor of abuse and violence needs forgiveness in their heart whether staying or leaving, whether the partner knows about it or not. Forgiveness, however, does not require staying in dangerous situations.

God protects the innocent. Those who are victimized by the use of abuse or threat of harm to violently control another are innocent, despite the abuser’s rationale of “Well s/he deserved it. S/he is disrespectful, disobedient, and I have the right to control or correct.” Even some Christian leaders, lacking in discernment and often having no experience in these matters, have directed those who are being abused to stay or return for the sake of the marriage vows.

This is prioritizing the law of staying married over mercy for the one victimized. It reveals a grievous lack of heart wisdom for the victim. This advice is more often offered by someone who has never been in this position. Whether the relationship is sustained or not is God’s business.

The key is what the holy spirit directs that person to do. When the answer is to separate, it is a difficult, even grievous decision, In fact, more women die at the hands of their abusers after they leave, because of the loss of power and control the perpetrator fees. And what a time to lose the spiritual support of those who disagree and judge the victim for leaving. T

While it is God’s ideal that hearts be truly repentant of the harm and hurt caused to another, it is not our job to require this. Perhaps we want the other person who has caused the offenses and wounds to be good and sorry before we extend our mercy and forgiveness, but God’s forgiveness frees us regardless of what the other person’s attitudes may be.

This idea of earning forgiveness likely stems from childhood experiences when we are disciplined for wrong and rewarded for right behavior. Most of us experienced discipline or consequences at home and at school when we did wrong, so we learn to expect rewards for doing good and punishment for not.

There is value and truth in this as children, but as adults, the key is acting to please the Lord, not ourselves:

“The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have an opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.” Galatians 6:8-10 BSB

Goodness to all must be done in the spirit. How rapidly might the world change if all of us Christians will endeavor to do good to everyone? It is impossible to sustain goodness in the flesh, though some have a head start with a God-given compassionate nature. But good works done for any other reason than God’s leading by the spirit are as worthless as sinful or evil works.

This is eating from the tree of good and evil instead of from the tree of life. As children, and later as adults, we may struggle when this model of reward and consequences doesn’t show up fairly in our lives. We dislike the tests that come when unfair things happen to us that we do not deserve. We may cry out: “It’s not fair!”, not understanding God’s redemptive justice is higher than our ways and our desire for equal distribution of suffering.

God clearly does not make His decisions based on what we humans consider fair. This is a hard lesson in God’s kingdom that should be obvious by now but we often continue to struggle with it. It comes as a disappointing truth for many of us until we understand more about how His ways are not ours.

Surely Jesus was treated most unfairly and yet, in His suffering on the cross, He asked the Father to forgive them. He knew they did not know what they were doing, that they were actually fulfilling God’s plan to sacrifice His only son for all. Yet I have Jewish friends who have been persecuted and rejected by Christians, even as children, because some Christians blame the Jews for Jesus’ crucifixion.

We desire a word of life, not just of good and evil. Good and honorable behavior is not exclusive to Christians, though we should be specialists in this. Unbelievers may have good hearts that flow out to others without godliness working within. When we grow and change in our understanding of His ways, however, our harvest of reward is spiritual and eternal.

Our rewards may never appear by others treating us like we treat them, a disappointing fact of life, but the joy of pleasing the Lord in our well-doing becomes more and more satisfying. How little do we believers understand the purpose and plan of God when we get stuck in blaming humans for what God did!

Ironically, the offender may have totally forgotten what happened, while we continue to ruminate about it. God understands the many hurts and unfairness we all experience in this life. He comforts and directs us, knowing the price we pay for carrying them around.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:11-12 BSB

“I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 BSB

If God puts our transgressions far away like east from west, He certainly is not taking them out and examining them on a regular basis like we tend to do. He is not warily watching us to see when we do it again, checking if He needs to remind us of our errors and sins. He is certainly not rehearsing our sins when He remembers them no more!

Christians don’t necessarily act as if we believe this about God, but it is what He said. The Hebrew word for remember in the scripture from Isaiah is zakar, meaning “to mark so as to recognize, to remember in order to mention, mindful, recount, bring, or call to mind, think on.” This is what God is promising never to do when He states unequivocally that He will remember our transgressions no more. Ever. Period.

We are called to be the light of the world, yet unforgiveness and the judgment it feeds are part of what some people hold against Christians – our hateful, poisonous self-righteous attitude toward others. This is not speaking the truth in love! It may be truth, but stems from a different spirit than God’s spirit of love and mercy.

This is particularly noted when we Christians are holding forth and judging what we know nothing about except for what it looks like to us from the outside. We all have found ourselves doing this despite knowing it is not to be a part of our Christian walk.

There are endless attitudes and assumptions, including stereotypes about others and their circumstances, that we all have. It’s part of life, how our marvelous God-given brains are made to work. These biases influence us, knowingly or worse, unknowingly, in our attitudes and behaviors towards others.

When we know our biases and submit them to the Lord for cleansing, then our human viewpoint will not negatively impact others in our world. How beautifully the Lord works within us to have humility to teach us that we do not know what it is like for another, even when we think we do!

We may share similar outcomes, but the details vary from person to person. There are many ways Christians end up divorced, unemployed, eating, drinking, and socializing in unholy ways, living and loving in ways unacceptable to others. How do we show the light, despising the sin—the failure to meet the mark— while not displaying human judgment or harshness towards others in error?

After all, are we not all missing the mark in some way? Dare we rank order external sins while ignoring the carnal attitudes in our own hearts? When Christians fall short in these matters, unbelievers ask, “Where’s the love?” God tells us that it is what comes out of a man that is defiling because it flows from what is in the heart.

Jesus spoke to this when the Pharisees were upset because He and His disciples did not follow the established traditions of the elders. Jesus confronts them about speaking holy words while their hearts are far from Him. Jesus said to the crowd:

“‘Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.’ Then the disciples came to Him and said, ‘Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

But Jesus replied, ‘Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots. Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.’

Peter said to Him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ ‘Do you still not understand?’ Jesus asked. ‘Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.” Matthew 15:10-20 BSB

Jesus was teaching the crowd before Him that the Pharisees had their priorities wrong. They outwardly worshipped God, extolling the many virtues of keeping their rules and traditions, while inwardly, their hearts were full of pride and deceit. Did Jesus love His enemies? Of course!

Did Jesus know that most of the Pharisees and elders at the time would not hear or follow Him? Yes, He knew what was in their hearts. He wanted the crowd, as well as His disciples, to understand this. But Jesus still forgave all, even His enemies. Jesus was delivering a radically different message to the Jews listening to Him.

The Jewish religion was based upon following the law of Moses, requiring outward sacrifice and religious customs that were a show of righteousness. But there was no focus on what was in their hearts until Jesus came along. Like many of us when God reveals the ugly things in our hearts, they did not like it at all! They got offended, resisting or denying the truth of their inward condition.

What is in our hearts, when not dealt with by God, eventually comes out as behavior. Yes, God is against the sins of the flesh, but where do they come from? The way of Jesus is to speak a word of power and light, a word of life that changes the course of lives, freeing all from sin and error.

Jesus holds our present day erroneous, uber-religious, blind leaders to a higher standard than their followers, because of the authority and power they have. They keep others in their prison of self-righteousness. This is spiritual wickedness in high places:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-13 BSB

It’s really the spirits within others that have power in this world’s darkness. It’s the spirit of darkness coming from the hearts of those who harm us or those we love. There are spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. That means there is evil in the lower spiritual heavens, on every level where His own people still sin.

There are evil spiritual forces working in the heavens, and there are realms of heaven. That’s a lot to consider here, but one thing is certain: it is the spirits that rule in darkness within our enemies and we are at risk of allowing them to contaminate, to grow within us. His ways certainly are different than our human ways!

What about the horrific things that man does to others so far beyond our human understanding that we are unable to believe it truly happens? Such things thankfully remain completely outside the lives of many of us. We desire justice in this world, but we know that the world is sadly, even horribly, lacking in true and righteous judgment.

As our earthly conditions worsen, what is happening in this 21st century sounds a lot like this scripture in Amos.

“It is as if a man runs from a lion [escaping one danger] and a bear meets him [so he dies anyway], or goes home, and leans with his hand against the wall and a snake bites him.” Amos 5:19 NIV

We believers cannot deny that there are terrible things happening in this world, one after the other. Multitudes of innocent people face danger, death, and loss on a daily basis. More and more are victims of frequent natural disasters. It is particularly offensive for Christians to casually and without thought or prayer, provide superficial advice for dealing with such extremely adverse circumstances.

While being grateful that we are not tested in many of these ways, we need to remain humble in realizing we have not dealt with anything close to the challenges of multitudes of other believers on this earth. We have had the privilege to be born in a place, a family, a nation, a culture, where such things happened to others rather than ourselves.

Many of us have not been asked to deal with someone who caused a fatal accident that took the life of a loved one, or the murder of a child or family member, or watching lives and homes destroyed by our country’s enemies in times of war, or being tormented and defiled by those who are supposed to love us, harmed and murdered because of the color of our skin or any outward appearance of the flesh, or captured and tortured by our enemies.

Unless God gives us understanding for such circumstances, we cannot grasp them. It’s best to humbly listen and learn, rather than think we know and rush to respond. God is able to teach us His ways in all circumstances when we recognize our lack and submissively ask Him.

Some say that there are things that are just unforgivable, but God makes no exceptions. There are saints through the centuries who have deeply suffered and done just that. When well-meaning Christians attempt to comfort others with platitudes, they end up causing the person, particularly children, to feel misunderstood or confused rather than comforted and supported.

How we all require the wisdom of God when interacting with those who are angry and suffering unspeakable pain and loss! Sometimes we rush to this response because it is too difficult for us to hear about such experiences. But silence can be golden! God, help us to share scriptures wisely in YOUR way—in Your time, with Your motivation of love and compassion for the suffering of others.

God is fully able to work His compassion and understanding for others into our hearts. He may also respectfully reveal the roots of their issues to give us understanding of the deeper causes of their struggles. Many sinful things are understandable by the holy spirit even though they remain wrong. Hating the sin while loving the sinner is impossible without the Lord.

Though we may never know what it is like to have such things happen, we all know pain and at least some unearned suffering. When offering godly counsel to the deeply wounded, we cannot just give what we think is good advice. When not led by the Lord, we inevitably say unhelpful things, causing further distress.

The wise path is to wait until we know what to say and when to say it as led by His spirit. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a season for all things. How the Lord’s heart must grieve to see all of us, including little ones who suffer so much, experience things that so many others cannot even imagine.

No one really wants to hear the worst that humans can do to another, particularly to innocent children. But God hears. He knows. God sends some of His own to be wise counselors who offer comfort and hope His way, not their own ideas and words.

We are to handle carefully the precious bruised and broken hearts of others, praying that they will allow God to give them His comfort and rest:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 12:20 BSB

We want to be like Him and are able and willing to do so.

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:6-9 BSB

We continually pray for His will, not ours. God is a Healer of all in every situation when submitted to Him. He is faithful and just to create that same ability that He has: to be willing and then to do His good pleasure by forgiving others. We cannot provide true redemptive justice without a change of heart.

Laws can’t do it, though they are necessary to protect the innocent. It is only accomplished by the work of the holy spirit in the hearts of men and women, sometimes one heart at a time.As our will is submitted to Him, He softens our hardened hearts and changes our emotions to compassion and mercy.

Father God refashions our hardened hearts into hearts that are soft, pliable, able to to be written upon with His ways. He is an amazing, incredible God whose ways are not ours until the full redemption of His plan makes us into His image and likeness, to be unveiled within us as epistles read of all men.

God’s Judgment Is Always Redemptive

Recently, the statement, “God’s judgment is always redemptive,” burned itself into my heart. It is an answer to a years-long search for understanding God’s judgment in contrast with human judgment. He judges righteously from a perfect union of His mercy and His justice. In His perfection, God the Father is both mercy and judgment. God’s judgment has a purpose—to redeem us from sin, the flesh, and the devil.

God is always merciful, and His judgment is certain. Because He is love, He has the perfect balance between the two.

“Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalms 85:10 AKJV

Now, this is something I have found most difficult for us human beings to achieve! It is challenging to resist being judgmental, including judging others for their critical and condemning attitudes and behaviors. When we judge others who display critical judgment without compassion or understanding, we find ourselves in the unhappy dilemma of being judgmental about others who are judgmental!

Human judgment of the behavior and choices of others is typically drawn from external information—what is seen, heard, or reported by others. Rarely do those who are judging have accurate information, especially about the person’s internal heart, their history, or the circumstances of those they are judging. Check out any of today’s social media platforms, and you will see just how rampant and even vicious people’s opinions of one another can be—and this is in the Christian community!

Whether it is entertainment, politics, sports, business, or personal life choices, judgment displayed with lack of love is thriving. Such judgment is the reason the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi said, "I like your Christ, but not your Christianity." (as quoted by Dr. J.H. Holmes, 1927). As with Gandhi, judgmental attitudes and opinions displayed by Christians and the conflicts these generate are a common turn-off for those who have not met the Lord.

Our human judgment, our opinions and reasoning, is an ugliness that is far too commonly displayed among close Christian brothers and sisters and also within Christian families. Judgmental attitudes and behaviors are spots on our garments, yet appearing to approve ungodly behavior is not the answer either. How can we avoid human judgment while remaining true to our Christian beliefs?

God’s judgment differs from human judgment in its purpose of redemption, so how are we Christians to display this godly judgment? There are things that are wrong, sinful, and missing the mark that God will not wink at in our lives and the lives of others. How do we show mercy and compassion to others whose choices differ from ours? How do we exhibit love and mercy that does not seemingly agree with or approve of what we know is not according to God’s word?

Consider what Paul taught Timothy about dealing with others from a pure heart:

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:22-26 NIV

Many a fiery sermon from the pulpit is not delivered with gentle instruction, using zeal, rather than God’s ways, to convict sinners. God desires us to have the right attitude and motive of the heart because that is where our words begin. We are to gently edify and lift up others, particularly those in our faith communities. When God’s love is the Master of our motives, His love will check our spirit, pricking our conscience when we say or think critical, judgmental things that tear down rather than build up.

More than one Christian has had their testimony or even ministry destroyed by words spoken by others who neither know nor care about the effects of their words. Without mercy or grace, words hurt!

“…but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16 BSB

There is only one way we can grow the Body of Christ: by building each other up in love. As we mature, growing up in the Lord, we become more skilled at speaking His truth in love. Love is the strongest, most powerful force in the universe! What people will do and how they can change under the power of true and faithful God-love is amazing!

God is able to teach us to show love and mercy to everyone, even the unlovable, though we disagree or even hate what they might do. We all need to be covered in grace and love when we are in this battle to live the right way, God’s way, in our sin-filled world. We can leave the judgment to God’s wisdom as He draws those missing the mark —which is all of us—more powerfully.

There’s a God-place in all of us that brings an awareness of the very things about which others are judging us. Deep down, where God’s seed is, there’s a hidden awareness when we are falling short of the mark. It’s a built-in awareness of sin, unless the consciousness is seared.

“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." 1 Timothy 4:2 NIV

This describes those who still teach laws about what is forbidden rather than grace through faith. Their conscience has become numb, insensitive to right and wrong, often due to hypocrisy and a hardening of the heart. This has lead to a callousness towards God's will and the ability to commit evil without remorse.

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.” Ephesians 4:17-18 BSB

The heart is hardened so that this God-given small, secret awareness of truth and righteousness is quenched and eventually deadened in some who practice evil on a daily basis. But, it’s still there. God knows the hearts of humans, including ones whose hearts may yet be softened in this life. Others must wait until their time to appear before the judgment seat of God to change and redeem their natures.

We humans are usually unaware of what is in another’s heart when we judge another. We do not know what happens in the privacy of another’s life and relationships. Careless or critical comments are discouraging, rather than strengthening, for hope of any possible change. After all, what can one expect from a person who believes they are so bad that there is no hope for them?

God came to save the world, so there is no one who is beyond His love. Most of us would be surprised at the self-condemnation in others' hearts who seemingly do wrong without conscience. The last thing some need is to have others joining in their own self-condemnation and self-loathing. Hatred of the sinner does not bring us to full life, Christ does!

People do get trapped into wrongful situations, and some have even been beseeching the Lord to free them. God gives wisdom not to speak words that are wasted on those without conscience or ability to hear. We are not to cast our pearls before swine but we are to:

“…encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 BSB

We are to encourage those who can hear along the way, building each other up by edifying our brothers and sisters in love. God’s way is not our way but it can be! He does not look at what a person is doing, judging casually or carelessly. His judgment always has the purpose of redemptive change. It’s always focused on reconciling us to Christ!

Let us ask ourselves: is this the pre-eminent motive for us Christians when we judge another individual or group? Is it possible that self-righteousness and superiority are harbored in our hearts when we do this? Some have done no wrong, but circumstances may appear as if they have. The apostle Peter says this to Christians:

“Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NIV

Love covers first, it does not first expose. This, above all, includes every single thing that we judge when someone misses the mark. Covering sins is not the same as excusing, denying, or ignoring them. We lay the blanket of love over the sins of others, covering them rather than broadcasting them. We see them there but cover in mercy and compassion, interceding with God on their behalf rather than exposing them. It is God’s choosing, not ours, to reveal the unrepentant behavior of others.

“Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:14-16 NIV

Speaking negative things to or about others is so easy, particularly with our intimate friends! At these times, many motives other than love are present in our hearts. Perhaps we want to gain status, sympathy, get attention, appear to be in the know with the inside scoop, or display our righteousness in contrast to the person we are discussing, even gossiping, perhaps even under the guise of a prayer request! The difference between God-given discernment and human judgment is surely in the attitude of the heart to whom it is revealed.

We also catch ourselves repeating past categorical judgments, holding them in our hearts when we have no idea of what has currently transpired nor God’s will in the matter. We apply laws rather than mercy, when Jesus Christ came to make a way for all. We all grow up with cultural blind spots that are not truth about others. These may unknowingly offend but the desire of love is not to offend but to enrich.

We need more covering in love and less exposure of others! Paul further told Timothy:

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2 Timothy 2:16 NIV

The words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are to be pleasing to the Lord, as David says in the Psalms. Love and respect–what we social workers call unconditional positive regard–is displayed just because someone is another human on this planet. It is acceptance of humanity as is, as God sees us all. Who else knows everything about us and loves us just the same?

God enables us to show forth His nature to others, including those who choose to reveal their innermost struggles or when God allows us to see their hearts. When we understand that human judgment is ineffective in the redemption of others, our ears are open to learning what life-giving spiritual principles of God are available in the matter. We may be right in principle, standing for the truth, but very wrong, unloving and critical, in the attitudes and motives of our hearts.

There are untold examples of Christians who have committed grievous errors against God and man who have been redeemed by the love of God in His people. The most dramatic of these is the conversion of Saul, the persecutor of Christians. One powerful appearance of Jesus to Saul changed him to Paul, a great apostle of Jesus Christ.

But what if the Christian community’s justified judgment of Saul would have led them to refuse his entry into the Kingdom? Thank the Lord He sent Paul to an obedient servant who did not judge him from his past! Christians are to be known particularly for their love and mercy towards others, most especially for the people of faith. “They will know us by our love.”

Well, do they? Redemption from our old ways of judging by external behavior or appearance leads to new life in Him. In our human judgment, we prioritize many external factors that God does not prioritize, just as the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day did:

“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.’

Jesus replied, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?

But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.’” Matthew 12: 1-7 BSB

These religious followers of the law condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath and for eating and drinking with sinners and tax collectors. Read the Book and you will find that these workers of the Jewish laws looked at outward appearance rather than the heart. But now, we have His love, an unlimited source, within us. We go to the Source of love when we don’t have what we need.

Faith through love is the only answer, as Paul told the early Christians who were being persuaded to get circumcised according to the Law. He was clear that if you insist on obeying a part of the law, you are required to fulfill it all, nullifying the sacrifice of Jesus Christ:

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Galatians 5:6 ESV

God does not look at or evaluate our righteousness by all the outward things our society, specific culture, or even Christian community relies upon to measure the godliness of a man or woman of faith. How we treat one another is much more important than the sins of the flesh we love to condemn. God is able to teach us to respond to others through His judgment and mercy which are never separate in Him.

This is godly judgment, coming from the pure heart of love God has for the world. God does not change His standards, but He does change what is in our hearts. It’s not a matter of pretending not to see what misses the mark (sin), but a choice to focus on the love of God, to see others with empathy and compassion. Learning to speak the truth in love is the most refining characteristic God is working within His chosen people.

Even when we don’t speak our judgments out, as many in this age are doing, we still need them purged from our hearts when we desire to become ever more like our Lord. When we speak to others with these things hidden in our hearts, we speak with guile. That is unacceptable to God.

It is not that we cannot see or are not given spiritual discernment about what is righteous. It is about the attitudes of our hearts when we do. And guile is something we may hide from ourselves. It’s in the mixed motives of God and self from which we speak our words.

God always prioritizes having the character of Christ working in our hearts over the works we do for Him. He desires us to flow out with His righteous behavior towards all. Understanding that God’s judgment is always redemptive means that His heart, His sole purpose and intent, is always and eternally focused on redeeming or saving the individual. Always.

God looks at a man's heart to see the underlying motives of human behavior and judgment. Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ have no mixed motives like we do!Judgment with condemnation rather than compassion causes a loss of hope for many who are struggling with sinful conditions or unexpected changes in their lives.

Many have a story or a history that we know nothing about. To put it bluntly, it doesn’t help! Even well-meaning but continual correction meant for good is discouraging to others. Watch a child being raised with continual criticism and judgment for their failures. A child who is repeatedly told she or he is worthless or bad loses hope, often becoming what he or she hears.

Everyone needs someone to believe in them, encouraging them on their way. When a person is criticized for every mistake, regardless of its purpose, their confidence as well as their hope and ability to change is decreased. Who is it, indeed, that is without sin, thus able to cast that first stone of condemnation?

All fall short of the glory of God. And what sense does it make to judge others according to our principles when many people do not even know these same spiritual life truths by which we are attempting to live? Others’ choices and behaviors are often incomprehensible to us because we are outside their situation.

How can we know why a Christian is facing divorce or loses their job or appears to be involved in an activity that seems fleshly to us? We have not faced all of the past and present things that others have walked through. How do we presume to understand an issue or problem, let alone repeat it to others, when we have not personally dealt with it? Only God by the spirit can reveal what is in the heart of others, what motivates them to do what they do.

When we have not walked the same path, only God can work empathy and compassion within our hearts for another who is stumbling or has fallen. He is all wisdom so He prepares us to help those who have walked paths we know nothing about. The key is realizing as well as sharing that we do not know from experience while we do know God’s ways.

Jesus was tested in all things, yet was without sin so He is the only One who enables us to walk with those who are transgressing. As our High Priest, He understands. He has been there and overcame it all, providing hope and a way of escape for every person on the earth. Through our many experiences and interactions, we learn to empathize with another’s pain and suffering.

Then we better understand what it is like for them in their particular troubles should God reveal it. We may not have the same circumstances, but we all have faced the pain of loss, betrayal, and adversity. We also learn godly responses when someone treats us in a way we would never dream of treating another. God says:

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NASB

Though it should not be so with Christians, it is rare for others to treat us well when we are not treating them well! When we expect others to treat us well as we have treated them, it is disappointing when they don’t. Sadly, treating others well is no guarantee they will treat us well in return—but it does increase the chances!

We do it to please our Lord, not to gain a reward from man. As the Mitchell translation puts it, Jesus has no habit of receiving glory from humans and neither should we. God is building this principle into good character within us. We cannot earn being treated well by others unless our ways our perfect.

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 BSB

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. James 3:2 BSB

God will teach us what we need to know as we humble ourselves to learn of His ways. We are enabled to listen to others with a heart that desires to understand. So many people are isolated, having no one to care, let alone share their struggles. But when we do understand more about the experiences others has lived through, instead of judging them, we often wonder, considering their history, if we would do as well as they are doing!

It is very easy to judge someone’s actions by outward appearance, by what we can see externally, but that is not God’s way at all. The Word is full of how God priorites the heart of humans. Redemption is defined as the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. In the Bible, it means the promise and power of God to deliver us from sin and death.

Jesus Christ our Lord came, ministered, and died for this purpose. Any judgment He has is to redeem that person, with truth in love creating that change. Jesus came to save the world, not condemn it, by swallowing up darkness with the light of His presence.

Do you realize that Jesus never condemned the sinners to whom He ministered in His earthly life? Jesus never spoke one word of judgment to any sinners with whom He interacted. He did not even condemn Judas when it was revealed that Judas would betray Him, still calling Judas friend as Judas led the Roman soldiers to arrest Him. He knew what Judas had to do.

Jesus also knew what was in the hearts of His enemies. Jesus’ words of chastisement and judgment were directed at the Hebrew leaders and priests of His time, whom He rebuked strongly, bluntly, and repeatedly. Why? As leaders, they knew the truth about Moses’ law and taught it to others but did not live what they preached.

There is judgment towards change for leaders whose words to others are not a part of their own character. Such leadership further cause followers to stumble. Through the centuries, many church leaders have done just that. The law brings death rather than the living Word that brings life.

Jesus called the Jewish leaders and scribes of His day hypocrites. Such leaders were self-righteously preaching to others, laying burdens or heavy loads on their people to fulfil the demands of the law without doing it themselves. When our words and behaviors do not match, lacking the life of the character of Jesus Christ, we are truly hypocrites.

It seldom creates change in the heart when judgment and condemnation is delivered with no path to redemption. Jesus called this a snare, because it sounds right and has the appearance of truth. Their truth is just and righteous, they knew the law well, but their ways were not:

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and His disciples, saying, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. They tie up heavy loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.

But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men, for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called by men, Rabbi.

But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

But the greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:1-12 NASB

This passage of scripture reveals what our Lord Jesus Christ thinks of others, especially Christian leaders, who rail against sin but fail to do what they tell others to do. Jesus clearly saw their hearts, and that is why they hated Him. It takes a strong person in God to withstand hearing the truth about themselves without becoming defensive and blaming the speaker.

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time, and many since, have mixed motives in their hearts, retaining power and position without showing forth God’s nature in their lives. Jesus agreed with what they were saying— the law of Moses is truth. It’s the right standard of behavior but comes from the wrong internal standard of character within as well as the wrong way to communicate it to others.

Jesus exposed and condemned wrong motives of their hearts, their self-righteous, better-than attitudes towards their listeners. Jesus saw right through such exalted external displays. Jesus through the holy spirit within is still doing so in all who are willing to hear Him. More importantly, He came to fulfill the law, as no human, including the leaders of that time or now, can do this in our flesh.

No one can trust another whose words and behaviors do not match. We are prone to believe what we see, the outward behaviors, rather than becoming aware of the heart inside. Jesus looked beyond their outwardly religious righteous behavior into the heart motives of pride, power, and position in their hearts. Jesus judged the scribes and the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites and blind guides. He will not be satisfied until His own have pure hearts without guile.

Jesus’ words expose the darkness of human lust for power and the esteem of men, the pride of life to which all flesh is subject. Many love to lay the law down heavily on others, including their followers, but were far from fulfilling the law themselves. This never shows the people the way into life as judgment without mercy condemns rather than saves.

Jesus knew they would orchestrate His crucifixion because of what was in their hearts and the threat He was to all they held dear in their world. They had no idea that they were doing the will of God! But Jesus never spoke in any such way to the individual sinners or to the multitudes. Instead, He spoke of encouragement and hope.

When interacting with those who came to Him for ministry, He convicted them of their sin without chastisement, such as the woman caught in adultery. He knew she was sinning and she did too! Instead, He saw the intent of her accusers, the motives in their hearts to set a trap for Him. They judged her while having sinned themselves.

Unlike some Christians today, He did not severely judge such outward sins of the flesh in the same way that He did the heart condition of her accusers. Jesus always sees in the hearts of humans. Yes, He knew what this woman had been sinfully doing, and wanted to provide opportunity for her to change, to be redeemed through his love and kindness.

This woman certainly was surprised at how He treated her, as it was most unexpected. He did not join the self-righteous leaders who were attempting to trick him with how He would handle a woman caught in the obvious sin of adultery.

esus dealt with this situation wisely, with very few words:

“..the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?’ And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and, with His finger, wrote on the ground.

But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ And she said, ‘No one, Lord.’

And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on, sin no more.’” John 8:3-11 NASB

Can you imagine Jesus’ piercing gaze as He said these words to the woman’s accusers? We wonder what He wrote in the sand and some speculate that it may have been each of the accusers’ sins He was quietly revealing. Jesus did not tell the woman that the way she was living was wrong. She knew this already but did not know how to become free.

More than one Christian has found themselves caught in the snare of adultery, seeking diligently through prayer for the strength of God to be released. We can be assured that this woman, speaking with the Lord of glory and seeing what compassion and righteousness He showed toward her, did not sin again.

Jesus neither placated her nor excused her sin, but spoke truth to her that she was in an adulterous relationship now and had been before. Then He told her, “Go, and sin no more.” The Lord’s words work a change within so that those sinning, falling short of the mark, no longer continue in wrongful behavior. He speaks a word of truth in love about what the issue is and provides a way of escape.

God is the changer of hearts, where the root of any issue begins and ends. This woman was forever changed without condemnation, chastisement, or rejection by Jesus. Are those who commit adultery now treated this way by the Christian community? Or do we behave the way these religious leaders did in dealing with this woman? Stoning of women still occurs in some countries, but our country and many others would never do that.

Instead, do we stone the sinner with words and gossip rather than rocks? Do we continue to judge the woman who commits adultery more harshly than the adulterous man? Are we quick to condemn, identify with and even support one partner over the other without knowing anything about it?

With no condemnation in His heart, our Lord showed this sinner His love and compassion as well as a way of escape from her sins, giving her only His word of life. Redemption! Reconciliation! Heart change! Jesus is our model, the Pattern Son. Without God working within us, none of us can live a righteous life, let alone possess a powerful word to free others.

Aren’t you glad we need our Father just as Jesus did and that He provides the way?

“For He knoweth our frame: He remembreth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 KJV

We love the Lord of mercy and compassion Who sees and understands our human condition. He well knows that without Him, we can do nothing. None of us are yet fully enabled to speak to others with pure motives, no guile in our hearts, speaking only the Father’s words as He did, but God continually writes His standards within us by His spirit.

In our Christian relationships, love is to be the cover as well as the driving force in all we do. Above all, we are to have a deep love for our brethren.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:17-19 BSB

May God help us to continue growing up into Him. There is so much to learn at His feet!

Part 1: The Foundation

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV