“For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 NKJ)
treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 NKJ)
The 17th century
pastor, Richard Baxter said, “The things that we value do deeply affect us, and
some motions will be in the heart according to our estimation of them.” What
kindergarten our children attend. Whether our favorite team has a national
championship or not. Can we get a TV channel or not?
pastor, Richard Baxter said, “The things that we value do deeply affect us, and
some motions will be in the heart according to our estimation of them.” What
kindergarten our children attend. Whether our favorite team has a national
championship or not. Can we get a TV channel or not?
Values. Those things
and issues which add meaning and worth to our lives. We are affected by them at
the deepest level of emotion. At the heart level, we invest our passions into
them.
and issues which add meaning and worth to our lives. We are affected by them at
the deepest level of emotion. At the heart level, we invest our passions into
them.
I think they involve
more than a football game or TV show. I sometimes wonder how much we value the
Gospel of Christ. Have our lives truly been affected by it? Has our passion for
it truly affected our families and communities?
more than a football game or TV show. I sometimes wonder how much we value the
Gospel of Christ. Have our lives truly been affected by it? Has our passion for
it truly affected our families and communities?
As a pastor and
writer, I sometimes feel like an “armchair quarterback” and strive to
resist such an attitude. The armchair quarterback sits in a comfortable
recliner sipping his/her favorite beverage, critiquing the coaching staff and
the players. One wonders how this “expert” would have reacted in the
game on the field.
writer, I sometimes feel like an “armchair quarterback” and strive to
resist such an attitude. The armchair quarterback sits in a comfortable
recliner sipping his/her favorite beverage, critiquing the coaching staff and
the players. One wonders how this “expert” would have reacted in the
game on the field.
It’s the old
speck-versus-plank issue. Jesus asked us, “why do you look at the speck in
your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”
(Matthew 7:3 NKJ). Then he tells us the proper action, “First remove the
plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from
your brother’s eye” (v. 5).
speck-versus-plank issue. Jesus asked us, “why do you look at the speck in
your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”
(Matthew 7:3 NKJ). Then he tells us the proper action, “First remove the
plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from
your brother’s eye” (v. 5).
The values of our
society are clearly seen by the priority the Church places on the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and his commission to make disciples of all nations. Before
proceeding to the ends of the earth with a benign, powerless missions program,
we must be changed by the message ourselves. Before judging others to be
apathetic about the Gospel of God, we must consider and deal with our own
apathy. Hence, the Lord’s command to wait for the promise of the Father (Acts
1:4 & 8).
society are clearly seen by the priority the Church places on the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and his commission to make disciples of all nations. Before
proceeding to the ends of the earth with a benign, powerless missions program,
we must be changed by the message ourselves. Before judging others to be
apathetic about the Gospel of God, we must consider and deal with our own
apathy. Hence, the Lord’s command to wait for the promise of the Father (Acts
1:4 & 8).
When we are
affected, inside and out — through and through — with the Father’s promised
power, then the value of the Gospel will penetrate both ourselves and our
society. People will be changed. Families will be changed. Churches will be
changed. Our communities will be changed. Our world will be changed.
affected, inside and out — through and through — with the Father’s promised
power, then the value of the Gospel will penetrate both ourselves and our
society. People will be changed. Families will be changed. Churches will be
changed. Our communities will be changed. Our world will be changed.
Dear Father, thank
you for your promise of the Holy Spirit’s power. Grant that we may value the
Gospel and by your Spirit change the world in which we live. I pray this in the
name of Jesus. AMEN
you for your promise of the Holy Spirit’s power. Grant that we may value the
Gospel and by your Spirit change the world in which we live. I pray this in the
name of Jesus. AMEN
Put your heart into
it today,
it today,