From His Heart

[Judy Harder]

The Kisses of an Enemy

Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?  Luke 22:48

It was late Thursday night.  Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples.  He was deeply grieved to the point of death, praying to His Father and sweating drops of blood as the weight of the sin of the whole world was pressing upon Him.  He knew the arresting soldiers were on their way.  To add to His agony, His disciples were asleep ... all except Judas.

Judas Iscariot was busily leading the charge against Him.  Judas was a thief and a lover of money (John 12:6).  He sold Jesus out for a mere thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave.  Stop and think about that: Judas sold out the holy, eternal, unfathomable God for the price of a lowly slave.  How tragically amazing!

The Bible tells us that it was at the Last Supper, after Jesus had washed the disciples' feet (Judas included) and instituted the Lord's Supper (the new covenant in His blood), that Satan entered Judas.  How boldly arrogant and offensive for Satan to enter Judas right in the Lord's physical presence!  With Satan firmly in charge of him, Judas, a picture of the antichrist to come, went to lead the soldiers to Gethsemane.  He betrays Jesus with, of all things, a kiss.  Isn't that just like the devil?  It is not enough to merely stab Jesus in the back with betrayal, he has to twist the knife in the process.  Betrayed with a kiss ... a kiss straight from hell.   

BETRAYAL

Can you identify with Jesus?  Have you ever been betrayed?  Have you ever had someone "kiss you" with deceitful kindness so that they could gut you down the road?  Many a wife or husband has experienced the kisses of a "best friend" who subversively steals away the marriage.  Many a friend has experienced the kisses of a "trusted" confidant who goes out and betrays that confidence to the gossipers.  Many a leader has experienced the kisses of so-called supporters who delightfully malign his character behind the scenes.  Can I get an "Amen!" somebody?   

What are we to do when we receive the kisses of betrayal from a trusted friend?  Get angry, resentful, and bitter?  Curse God and die?  NO!  We are to do what Jesus did and pray, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."  It is amazing how potential bitterness will evaporate in your heart when you pray for the well-being and blessing of those who have hurt you.

What are we to do when we are the betrayer?  We are NOT to do what Judas did.  When he saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he was overcome with grief and remorse.  But instead of repenting before God, He returned the thirty pieces of silver and went out and hanged himself.  As Dr. Adrian Rogers has so poignantly explained, "Trying to escape the hell within him, he stepped into the hell before him."  What a tragic picture of wasted privileges and opportunities was this Judas Iscariot.

When you are guilty of betrayal, you must get things right with God and the person you betrayed.  Peter was guilty of betrayal.  In the Lord's great time of need, Peter cursed and swore and said, "I don't even know the man!"  And what did Peter do?  He went out and wept bitterly ... and repented of his sin ... and received forgiveness from God.  You can do the same!

GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY

The lessons of Good Friday and Easter Sunday are numerous.  The overarching message is clear, however: No matter what terrible things you may have done, your sins can be forgiven in His name.  No matter how long you may have lived in sin and selfishness, no matter how low you may have sunk, no matter what hurt you may have endured, you can receive a fresh start and a new beginning from the King of Glory!   

The Lord really does love you, my friend.  He allowed Himself to be betrayed (He knew what Judas was doing every step of the way) and willingly went to the cross so He could pay for all your sins and mine.  He wants to have a relationship with you that is real, personal, and life-changing.  It starts when you confess your sins and turn from those sins to Jesus.

Will you do it?  Will you get things right with God and those you have hurt?  Will you let go of the bitterness you may be carrying over those who have betrayed you?  There is nothing as wonderful as knowing your heart is clean, pure, and free because of the blood of Jesus.  And that can be yours today!

To read additional devotionals click here.

Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

[Judy Harder]

The Cure for the Blues

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. Psalm 104:33

Do you ever get the blues? Do you ever just feel blah, down, and a little frustrated with your life? Do you fall into the trap where everything seems so bland, tasteless, monotonous, and unexciting?

I think most of us can relate to the blues. Maybe you are in a blue mood right now. Maybe you have gotten knocked down by life and find yourself on the brink of depression (a blue mood gone amuck). What can be done? Is there a cure? Yes!

Psalm 104:33-34 gives us the key to defeating the blues:

"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; as for me, I shall be glad in the Lord."

God doesn't want you to "sing the blues," He wants you to "sing the blues away." He wants you to open your mouth in praise to Him. He wants you to get your eyes off your depressing problems and on His matchless presence. No matter how "blue" your situation, God is still the awesome God who loves you and can work miracles on your behalf.

WHY SING PRAISES?

Why is there such great power in singing praise to God? The answer is found in Psalm 22:3 (KJV), "But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabits the praises of Israel." God's wonderful, awesome, life-changing presence begins to fill our "blue" mood when we make the choice to lift our voice in praise.

Perhaps you will remember these powerful lyrics from the song When You Praise the Lord.
 
When you're up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams,
And your hope's been cruelly crushed by Satan's manifested schemes,
And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears,
Don't let the faith you're standing in seem to disappear.

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him,
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise.
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you, serve only to remind you,
that they drop powerless behind you when you praise Him.

Will you take some time today to get alone with God and sing to Him? Find a great praise CD, one that gets your focus on the Lord and His greatness and power. Sing those praise songs back to Him. It will do wonders to cure your blues. Remember, your outlook will miraculously change if, if, if you direct your uplook to the Lord of glory who conquered death, hell, and the grave for you. His name is Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him, sing His praises, and say good-bye to the blues!


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

Building Up or Tearing Down?

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.  Ephesians 4:29-32

Many years ago, I was informally counseling a couple having marital problems. She was frustrated with him for not paying enough attention to her ... and she let him know it by the things she said. It was a classic "love and respect" problem. As I listened to the wife tear her husband down with her sharp-tongued words, I said to myself, "Terri, if you could only hear the things coming out of your mouth. No wonder your husband spends so much time at the office. People don't bash, belittle, and disrespect him there."

TAKING INVENTORY

Have you ever stopped to really listen to yourself? Have you ever truly considered the words that you allow to come out of your mouth?  Ask yourself these questions:

Are you speaking words of edification or words of destruction?
Do your words give grace to those who hear or do they give grief?
Do your words please the Holy Spirit or grieve the Holy Spirit?
Are your words laced with bitterness and slander or coated with blessing and sweetness? Be honest, what type of conversation is proceeding from your mouth?

God makes it crystal clear that we are to be careful what we speak because "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).  James said the tongue is "a restless evil and full of deadly poison" (James 3:.  If you and I are not careful to think before we speak, we will undoubtedly fall into the trap of using our tongues to spread poison and inflict death on family members, friends, classmates, workmates, and neighbors.

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Why is the tongue full of deadly poison?  Where do the rotten words come from?  Jesus said, "The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart" (Matthew 12:34).  Your mouth is like a bucket, and your heart is the well.  If rottenness is found in your "bucket," it is because rottenness is present in your heart.  The answer is not to wash your mouth out with soap, but rather to deal with the sin and bitterness that have obviously found a home in your heart.
                 
TAKE THE ROTTENNESS TO GOD

What do you do when you have been hurt and mistreated and, therefore, believe you are "justified" in lashing out with your tongue?  Take the hurt and mistreatment to God.  Share it all with Him ... and leave it there.  If there is bitterness within you as clearly revealed by the words you are speaking, get that bitterness out of your heart and under His blood.  Confess it to Him, repent and claim His abundant forgiveness.  He wants to give you a pure heart like His.  And when your heart is right, when the well is clean, the mouth brings forth words that bless and refresh like cold water to a thirsty soul.

[Judy Harder]

What's in Your Basket?

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.   Romans 8:28

Do you like cooking shows?  My family and I like to watch the cooking show CHOPPED.  In that show, several top-notch chefs are given a basket of ingredients with which to hopefully make a savory dish.  The challenge is in the ingredients; there is always an item or two that no chef in his right mind would choose.  How does anyone make a five-star dessert with gummy worms ... or grits ... or baby beets? (I hate beets.)

Amazingly, the master chefs are able to take all the odd-ball ingredients in each course basket (appetizer, entree, and dessert) and work them together to make a great-tasting meal.

GOD IS THE MASTER CHEF

When it comes to life, God is the Master Chef.  He is the One who is able to take all the difficult experiences and bad-tasting ingredients that befall us in life and work them together for good.  He is the God who is able to give beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

I talked to a friend this week who is facing some very tough circumstances.  Complications from a routine cataract surgery ended up costing him his right eye.  And if that weren't enough to deal with, he is fighting prostate cancer that has spread.  Without question, he has found some bad ingredients in his basket.

But you know what is great about my friend?  He is trusting God through it all.  While he surely doesn't understand why this is coming upon him, he knows the Lord loves Him ... and He loves the Lord.  And because he loves the Lord, Romans 8:28 is a promise for him to claim: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 

What do you do when your basket seems to be filled with baby beets and other undesirable ingredients?  Do you curse God and die?  Do you get bitter and lash out?  Do you throw in the towel and quit?  Let me encourage you to do what my friend is doing and turn all the bitter ingredients over to the Master Chef, the Lord Jesus Christ, and trust Him to work it together for good.

JOSEPH'S BITTER BASKET

Genesis tells us the amazing story of Joseph.  What did Joseph have in his basket?  Hatred and Betrayal—his brothers hated him because he was daddy's favorite, and they sold him into slavery in Egypt.  Lies and Suffering—as Potiphar's wife lied about him and said that he tried to rape her.  Darkness and Gloom—as he spent years of his life in a dark and foul prison, forgotten and forlorn.  (His basket of ingredients made baby beets look like chocolate covered almonds.)   

But God reached down into his basket, took all the bad ... and made a masterpiece!  And when God took his dish out of the oven, Joseph went from the prison to the palace.  He became the Prime Minister of Egypt.  WOW!  Talk about a promotion!  Years later, he told his brothers,  "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).     

My friend, God is able to take the worst of ingredients and work them together for good.  It is a rock solid promise in His Word.  So the challenge is this: will you trust Him in the dark hour, when all hope seems lost, to make a masterpiece from your basket?


Love,

[Judy Harder]

But I'm Only One Person, Lord

And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.   Ezekiel 22:30

Do you remember the long-running commercial from the U.S. Forest Service?  The tag line was, "Only you can prevent forest fires."  When I first heard that, I remember saying to myself, "What a joke.  What can I possibly do to prevent forest fires?"  Well, the truth of the matter is this: I can do a lot ... and so can you.

What is true in the natural realm concerning forest fires is also true in the spiritual realm concerning revival fires.  You and I may be weak, frail, and anonymous, but we can make a difference, a big difference in our nation for Christ and His Kingdom.  We can be the difference makers in our land with regard to God's mercy or God's wrath.   

GOD IS LOOKING FOR YOU

In Ezekiel 22, the Lord recounts the great sins of his people.  They were guilty of murder, idolatry, robbery, greed, gross and rampant sexual immorality, lies, extortion, oppression, selfishness to the nth degree, and abuse of the poor and needy.  To make matters worse, the priests and prophets were corrupt, preaching and teaching lies for personal gain.  God was filled with wrath over the blatant, arrogant, presumptuous sins of His people.  Judgment was coming ... and it wasn't going to be pretty.

Yet in the midst of all the sin, our merciful and compassionate God said, "And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one (Ezekiel 22:30).  Did you catch that?  He searched for A MAN.  He didn't require a group of men or a congregation of people.  He searched for ONE PERSON who would stand in the gap and pray.  One single person standing in repentance, humility, and honest intercession could have stemmed the tide of judgment for the nation of Judah.  But sadly, God found NO ONE ... and severe judgment fell.       

Only you can prevent forest fires ... and only you can prevent judgment from falling on this nation of ours.  Our national sins are just as bad if not worse than Judah's.  And God is looking today for one single person who will really get serious before Him and stand in the gap for the land.  Will you be that one?

DWIGHT L. MOODY

There is a very famous quote concerning 19th century evangelist Dwight L. Moody.  Moody was a poorly-educated young shoe clerk when he was led to Christ.  Soon after his conversion, he was at a prayer meeting where Evangelist Henry Varley said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man fully consecrated to Him."  And Moody bowed his head and said in response, "By the grace of God, I WILL BE THAT MAN!"

And God used D. L. Moody to shake the world for Christ.  He was the Billy Graham of his day.

God wants to use you, my friend.  He wants you to stand in the gap for Him.  He wants to empower you to be a force for the Kingdom of heaven.  "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9). 

God is looking.  Will you stand up today and say to God, "Lord, here I am.  I am only one and seem very insignificant ... but by Your grace, I choose to be completely Yours and let You use me to make a BIG difference for the Kingdom and stand in the gap for the land."


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

Do You Still Know How to Blush?

Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush.  Jeremiah 6:15

Have you noticed how the moral climate of our society has shifted in the last few years?  More and more people are living in open sin ... and they don't think a thing about it.

What's the big deal about having sex before you're married, or cheating on your spouse, or stealing from the government, or lying to get ahead at work, or having an abortion, or bailing on your family?  Who are you to tell me that what I am doing is wrong?!  The Bible says, "This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, 'I have done no wrong'" (Proverbs 30:20).  The adulterous woman is like the growing number of people in our world today: a people who have forgotten how to blush.

CAN YOU FEEL THE SHAME?

One of the marks of a hardened heart is the inability to feel shame and conviction of the Holy Spirit.  If you can sin BIG TIME and not feel the sting of the Lord's displeasure, something is very wrong inside.

Peter was one who boasted and bragged that he was ready to go with the Lord to prison and even to death.  He said all the other disciples may deny Christ, but he would NEVER deny Him.  As you know, however, he did deny him ... not once ... not twice ... but three times in a row.  And after the third denial, punctuated with cursing and swearing to prove he didn't know Him, the Bible says, "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter ... and he [Peter] went out and wept bitterly."  He could feel the shame.

Peter had failed miserably.  But praise God, he didn't blow it off as not a big deal.  He still knew how to blush, to feel shame and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Do you?

FEELING THE SHAME SO YOU CAN FEEL NO SHAME

Does God want us to live in shame?  Absolutely not!  But, He wants us to feel the shame and to come out of the deception that our sins are "no big deal" so that we can get right with Him.

If we follow the example of the adulterous woman and say, "I am not guilty (when we clearly are)," we don't erase the guilt, we just lie to ourselves.  After passing the sentence of death on the faultless Jesus of Nazareth, Pilate said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just man."  But we all know that he wasn't innocent.  Rather, he sent an innocent man to his death.  Oceans of water could not remove the guilt on Pilate's hands ... yet he felt no shame.

Here is the truth about shame: until you feel the shame of your sin ... until breaking God's law breaks your heart, you will never be able to get right with Him.  But, when you soften your heart and allow God's truth to permeate and convict, you can rightly deal with the sin that has become a part of you.

Peter went out and wept bitterly over denying His Lord.  He thought there was no way for him to ever be restored ... but he was wrong.  His shame and conviction before God opened the door for the Lord's grace, forgiveness, and restoration.  The same can be true of you.

Do you know how to blush ... how to feel ashamed of yourself when you blatantly sin against the Lord?  If so, thank God for it.  It shows that your heart is still sensitive to Him.  Get your sins out of the closet and under His blood.  Humbly confess to Him and claim His complete and total cleansing.  And begin to walk in His ways.  Make the decision to quit compromising with sin.  You'll be so glad that you did.

And God will be glorified.

[Judy Harder]

Redefining Marriage?

For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.  Genesis 2:24

As you know, the President of the United States made BIG news when he declared he has rethought his position on same sex marriage and is now in favor of such.  His exact words on the matter were:

"... I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."  President Barak Obama

Upon hearing these words, Rev. Franklin Graham lamented, "[It's a] sad day for America."  I would echo those sentiments.  Sad indeed.

GOD AND MARRIAGE

Where did marriage originate anyway?  Is it our place to define it and design it?

God is the one who created man and designed marriage.  He made EVE for ADAM, "a helper suitable to him."  She was like him in that she was human and made in the image of God, but she was unlike him in that she was female (the physiological differences are pretty obvious).  God brought woman to the man and performed the first wedding ceremony.

He desired for the two to become one under the bonds of holy marriage.  God is so wise.  He made a man and a woman different, so He could make them one ... and be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with children.

HOLD FAST TO THE TRUTH

Do not get confused by well-meaning friends, smooth-talking politicians, outspoken celebrities, situational ethics or the desire for political correctness.  God alone designed marriage ... and God alone defines marriage: One man to one woman for life.  And it is not up for repeal, erasure, modification or amendment.

Traditional marriage is the foundation and bedrock of society.  As David said in Psalm 11:3, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  May we as followers of Jesus Christ do our part to boldly and lovingly stand up for the truth of God and protect the foundations, no matter the pressure, the slander or the name-calling.

Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (John 15:18-20).

Take a stand for Jesus and His Word.  And at the same time, love those caught up in sin and the deception of the evil one.  God will bless you for being faithful to Him and speaking the truth in love.

[Judy Harder]

Have You Opened the Door for the Devil?

Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity [place].  Ephesians 4:26-27

Do you remember the 1981 movie Cujo?  It was a horror/thriller film about a rabid, crazed St. Bernard who went on the attack, terrorizing a woman and her asthmatic son who ended up trapped in their broken-down car in the driveway of a lonely farm house.  Anytime the mom opened her car door to attempt a dash into the farm house, Cujo would be all over her.  She had to continually run back to the car and quickly slam the door, lest crazy Cujo get inside and maul her and her son to death.  Without question, she could NOT let Cujo get in!

THE REAL CUJO

The devil is Cujo on steroids.  He is prowling about, seeking someone to devour.  If you allow him to come inside your home, your life, your family ... you will experience profound misery and devastation.  Jesus told us that the devil is a thief who "comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy" (John 10:10).

Of course, no one would be so foolish as to leave the door open so Satanic Cujo could come in, would they?  Tragically, people do it all the time.  They forget that the devil is prowling around out there, and they foolishly give him an open door, clear and easy access to their lives and loved ones.       

DO YOU HAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR THE DEVIL?

What are the ways people open the door to the devil?

1.  Unresolved anger.  If you let the sun go down on your anger, that anger turns to resentment and bitterness.  A resentful, bitter heart is a comfortable, inviting nest for the foul birds of hell.  It is a welcome mat for Satan to set up his shop of horrors in your life.

2.  Rebellion towards authority.  The Bible tells us that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (1 Sam. 15:23).  If you refuse to obey and submit to the authorities God has purposely placed in your life, you are acting just like the devil, the original rebel who led a revolt against the God of heaven.  Rebellion towards authority reveals a heart of rebellion against God who clearly sets up all authority (see Romans 13:1-2).       

3.  Willful disobedience.  If you are walking in willful, known disobedience and sin, the Bible makes it clear that you are walking in the darkness, not the light (see 1 John 1).  A walk in the darkness is a walk with the devil, the Prince of Darkness.   
     
4.  Provision for the Flesh.  Romans 13:14 tells us, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh with regard to its lusts."  Suppose you are struggling with alcohol, trying not to drink because drinking is wrecking your life.  If you keep alcohol in the house, you are making provision for the flesh and will never conquer that demon.  Whatever you are struggling with—drugs, sexual immorality, gambling, unhealthy relationships—if you don't make a clean break from that which is destroying you, you will never break free, no matter how much you "pray about it."   

ENCOURAGEMENT

Let me encourage you to search your heart to see if any of these things are present within you.  If so, confess it to God and a trusted friend (see James 5:16).  Grant and seek forgiveness so that the root of bitterness can be removed.  Put yourself under God's authority and the human authorities He has ordained.  Don't rebel, submit.  Make needed changes in your life and relationships.  Do whatever is necessary to slam the door on the devil!  Don't give him a place in your life because nothing but heartache and pain comes when Cujo is allowed inside.

[Judy Harder]

Friend or Foe?

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.  Proverbs 27:6

Can you tell the difference between a true friend and a false one?  So many people cannot.

Paul made friends with the people who lived in the region of Galatia.  He loved them ... and they loved him back.  He told them about Jesus and led them to faith in Christ.  It was wonderful, at least for a little while.

But then Paul left that region to preach the gospel elsewhere.  When he was gone, false teachers came in behind him and swept the Galatians off their feet with their smooth sounding rhetoric, persuasive arguments and "kisses of an enemy."  They deceived these new believers with heresy and caused them to turn on Paul, their spiritual father in the faith.

Paul was hurt, angry and incredulous.  He wondered how they could so quickly turn away from Jesus and the gospel of grace.  He wondered how they could so quickly see him as a foe.  He said, "Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16).

Is it right to view a truth-teller as an enemy?  Certainly not.  Truth-tellers are true friends.

LIE TO ME?

In our world today, many people would prefer to hear lies rather than the truth.  The people in Isaiah's day didn't want to hear Isaiah preach the truth.  They didn't want to hear that they were sinning and needed to get right with Holy God before judgment fell.  They told Isaiah, "You must not prophesy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions" (Isaiah 30:10).  They wanted to have their ears tickled and hear sweet-sounding myths rather than the truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4).  They wanted to hear how wonderful they were ... how much God loved them and how lucky He was to have them even give Him the time of day. How twisted is that!?

What about you?  Would you rather hear the truth or hear lies?

Here is the problem with a "lie to me" mentality: It may feel good for a moment—like a kiss—but it is deadly in the long run.  Those who live choosing to believe lies end up forfeiting earthly blessings and eternal rewards.  The cost of the kiss is just too great.

FAITHFUL WOUNDS

To be sure, the truth often hurts.  But the truth is SO NECESSARY.  It is a faithful wound.  It sets a person free.

When I was in seventh grade, I had hernia surgery.  I went into surgery looking perfectly healthy, even though I was not.  I came out of surgery with a scar and abdominal pain.  I was wounded ... but it was a faithful wound that led to the wonderful blessing of long-term health and all the benefits that go along with that.

Think of salvation.  The devil's kiss tells us we are fine as we are.  There is no need to repent and be born again.  But that is a palatable lie that will send a person to hell forever. What is the unpalatable truth?

You and I are rotten sinners unable to save ourselves and in desperate need of a Savior.  (Most people don't want to hear that!)  But, if we don't see our true condition, we will never cry out to Jesus in repentance and faith.  We will miss out on a relationship with God and be separated from Him for all eternity UNLESS WE FIRST BELIEVE AND RECEIVE THE FAITHFUL WOUND.

Let me encourage you as I encourage myself ... walk in the light.  Ask God to search your heart on a regular basis and reveal to you any darkness that might be accumulating there—pride, bitterness, jealousy, greed, idolatry, dishonesty or lust.  Spend time each day listening to the truth of God's Word.  And make sure you have people in your life who are true friends, folks who will love you enough to tell you the truth and provide faithful wounds.


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

How's Your Heart?

And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
Luke 8:15

Have you ever noticed that hospital doctors – especially ER doctors – always wear a stethoscope around their neck?  One of the first things they do with a patient is to check the heart.  Why is that?  It's because the heart is key and crucial.  We can handle a poorly functioning gall bladder or kidney, but if the heart starts to fail, it's Red Alert time.

So here's the question: How's your heart as it relates to God?  If I were to put on the spiritual stethoscope, what would I discover?

THE SOWER AND THE SEED

In the Lord's great parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus compares the good soil – the soil that receives the seed (the Word of God) and grows – with an honest and good heart.  Is that true of your heart?  If Dr. Jesus were to listen to your heart today, would He remove His stethoscope and declare your heart to be honest and good?  What exactly does it mean to have a heart like that?

1.  An honest and good heart looks soberly in the mirror and faces the brutal facts.  A person with a heart like that doesn't make excuses or blame others or lie to himself about his sins and moral failures.  He doesn't hide from the light of God's truth, but he comes to the light so that forgiveness, cleansing and healing can take place.

2.  An honest and good heart desires to do whatever is necessary to be right with God.

3.  An honest and good heart knows "life is not about me and my agenda; it's about Jesus and His glory."

4.  An honest and good heart is soft and tender and ready to receive from God.  This person is not a bitter cynic, questioning God's veracity and motives ... and looking for reasons to "justify" his unbelief.

THE GOOD NEWS

What do you do if you didn't fare so well on the heart test?  Do you get mad at the doctor ... and disregard the results of the test?  I hope not.  That would be incredibly foolish.  The right thing to do is to get to work on your heart.

In the parable of the sower and seed, the good soil was that which had been cultivated, plowed, de-rocked and de-weeded.  That same work needs to be done in your heart through genuine repentance, confession of sin, and turning to the Lord.

God says in Hosea 10:12, "Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

Humbly ask God to change your heart and make it honest and good ... and He will.  He longs to answer that kind of prayer.


Love,