Spock versus Kirk?

Audio Blog

Jeremiah 4:3-4, 14, 18-19 NLT

This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.

O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart that you may be saved. How long will you harbor your evil thoughts?

“Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!” My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still. For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries.

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We say we live in a an age of reason. And yet our science fiction still sees a need for the heart. Passion versus proof, gut verses intellect, these are the arguments of our day just as they have been since the dawn of time.

Constantly Kirk on Star Trek is going with his gut (Interestingly the gut was the seat of emotions in antiquity in some cultures rather than the heart). And whether its David of Prometheus or Data of Star Trek the desire to be more human always involves possessing a heart that feels but it is held in check by logic.

So many times I and my Christian friends know the truth, we can recite the answer but our hearts are far from God.

To be sure if we had all the information and the proper perspective our intellect would still not always choose God.
Why? Passion! The heart and its desires often overrule the mind.

God is asking us to do something about our hearts.

God's people would not stray from thier collision course with God's judgment.

Their hearts were hard.

God and Jeremiah have broken hearts over the impeding doom.

Whatever side of the passion versus logic divide you find yourself you will need to turn both over to God.
God wants your mind and heart.

Nothing less will suffice.

Will you heed this warning and soften your heart towards God?

"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5 NLT

https://soundcloud.com/wkbode/consider-the-following-spock-v

God already knows what is in your heart.

Originally written 12/18/11

Psalm 139

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. 

God already knows what is in your heart. 

The writer of this Psalm understands his own self deception. He understands that He needs an objective examination of his own heart. No matter how long you have been following God, you will find that you are unaware of your own heart's motives. You lose touch with your worries and your attitudes. It should be our regular practice to have God inspect our hearts. When we come to His Word we should be looking for the x-ray of his Spirit to show up our hidden faults. Coming to God and his word with this attitude is like a regular blood test diagnosing our spiritual health.

• Invite God through his word and his Spirit to examine you! Let yourself be sifted, and willingly remove the impurities that are found. 
• Confess your sins to God and agree with Him you need to be changed by his word and his Spirit.
• Submit to His leadership. 
• Follow Him in the way everlasting. 

When was the last time you allowed God to point to anything in your life? When was it that you had your last full check up. When did you last confess your secret sins? When did you last agree with God there is  need for a change?

But it is not all about the former filth. 

We need to rejoice. This boldness comes because God has made a change. You are a new creation if you are a believer and you have a new heart. You need to recognise the sins you are not enslaved to and rejoice. You need to mark the progress with rejoicing. You love God. You want to change. You are willing to be searched. You are not the same person you were. So with this boldness you come to God wanting to genuinely find the things that need to change. And trusting God will help you change. This is not who you were. You are different. You trust in God. You hope in his leadership. You follow in his way of life. 

NL

23 God, houdt U mij in het oog en ken mijn hart. 

Toets mij. U mag alles weten wat er in mij omgaat.

24 Let op of ik soms de verkeerde weg opga.
Leid mij op uw weg, die naar uw eeuwigheid voert.

AR

23 افحَصْنِي يا اللهُ، لِتَعرِفَ ما فِي قَلبِي. 

امتَحِنِّي وَاعرِفْ أفكارِي.

24 وَانظُرْ إنْ كانَتْ فِيَّ أفكارٌ شِرِّيرَةٌ. 

وَقُدْنِي فِي طَرِيقِ الحَياةِ الأبَدِيَّةِ.

Delmar was right!

Luke 12:15-21 NLT

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.  He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’  Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.  And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

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This test reveals the state of our heart. Do you really trust Jesus to meet your needs?

Talk about countercultural,  seems Everything that has breath in this world is either praising wealth or seeking it. But Delmar's advise to Pete in O Brother Where Art Thou is good advice,  "Do not seek the treasure!"  Unless it is the treasure of having your sins washed away, even if it's knocking over the Piggly Wiggly and then lying about it. See what seeking the world's treasure leads to.

Jesus wants to know if you love and trust him more than wealth. Evaluate your goals, your actions, your time, your pride, your desires or your giving. What does it reveal?

I think it is impossible to trust God for all your needs unless He has worked the miracle of redemption in your soul.

But if you are a real believer I still don't think it will be easy or immediately natural to love God more than money. But I know you'll know it's the right way to live. You'll feel the struggle. You'll want to trust God more than money. And in many ways you'll begin to show it by giving to to others in need. You won't always think you'd be happier if you had a little more.
You will find a way to share. You'll think about others' needs more than you think of your own desires. And you won't keep hoping you hit it big in the lottery, or that a rich relative will leave you a bundle. You won't fall for some insurance scam, law offices advert or class action suit.
Your hope will not be in wealth.

You'll believe that a rich relationship with God is better than anything else.

You'll invest in your relationship with God. You'll read his word. You'll obey out of love. You'll not seek this world's empty treasure.

So how's your heart? What does it reveal?

Here read a bit more of what Jesus said about this :

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Luke 12:22-34 NLT

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.  For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.  Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Has the Lord opened your heart?

Acts 16:11-15 NLT

We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

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The book of Acts is full of stories of how God changes lives. We can be confident that God is at work in the hearts of people he is preparing to hear the good news about Jesus. Paul was going about his business looking for people who might listen to the gospel. So Paul went where people might be praying.
Lydia wondered about God. She worshiped God but did not know about Jesus. Praying and worshiping were a good start but without Jesus it wasn't enough. God rewarded her seeking with the truth. God sent Paul.

There's a lot to be learned from this story.  Firstly, this is God's work. He opens hearts. Secondly, I think we'll find people ready for the gospel if we look for those already seeking. Third, seeking is good, worshiping God is good, but God intends for people to hear about Jesus. God wants people to accept the good news about Jesus. Third, Lydia not only accepted this good news but she acted on it. Lydia was baptized.  God opened her heart, so she opened her home. She brought the gospel and the messengers into her home and business and those she had influence over also believed.

The whole reproductive nature of the good news is seen here from God sending the messenger, to God opening her heart,  to completely identifying herself in baptism, to Lydia opening her home and seeing others believe too.

Please be encouraged.

Letting your heart have a voice.

Could you let these be your prayers?