Being a Christian isn't just about following with your mind- creating plans and routines and disciplines. This is part of it, but when they are not motivated by a deep emotional love and appreciation for the precious gifts of our Savior and Lord, they become as empty as any worldly routines. Holy Spirit, teach me to live my Christian life filled with a heart that is trusting, listening, loving and wholly devoted to You.
A Trusting Heart
Deuteronomy 1:1-2:37
"Then I said to you, 'Don't be frightened; don't be afraid of those people. The Lord your God will go ahead of you and fight for you as he did in Egypt; you saw him do it. And in the desert you saw how the Lord your God carried you, like one carries a child. And he has brought you safely all the way to this place.'" (Deuteronomy 1:29-31)
The Israelites are afraid of following God's plan for their life. For us, knowing the end of the story, it's far too easy to criticize. "Come on, guys! God is on your side. You're not going to lose. You're secret weapon is better than a Wooden Horse any day!" But how very many times in the same situation to we feel those same emotions- timidity, anxiety, fear. It's the I-don't-know-about-this, the how's-this-going-to-turn-out, the are-you-sure-God?
But God is sure, and we only need to rest in His 'blessed assurance.' Yes, a 22-year-old who's never spoken Portuguese can travel to Rio and work in a favela where she knows no one! I'm sure that in so many circumstances God has carried me, just like one carries a child. And Lord, wherever it is that You are leading me, I will go... trusting You with all my heart, because you have brought me safely to each place I have been so far.
A Listening Heart
Psalm 36:1-4
"Sin speaks to the wicked in their hearts. They have no fear of God. They think too much of themselves so they don't see their sin and hate it. Their words are wicked lies; they are no longer wise or good. At night they make evil plans; what they do leads to nothing good. They don't refuse things that are evil." (Psalm 36:1-4)
"The wicked" is a loaded and dichotomizing term, so I try to avoid using such generalizations. I tend to believe that there are no "wicked" people but people who are misguided and haven't seen the light yet... haven't understood the freedom that is available to them in God's saving grace. So then, I prefer to see it as 'wicked' or 'bad tendencies' reside in each person... and it is our job not to let them win out.
This verse, which is not what we typically think of in considering the Psalms, mentions that sin speaks to your heart when you are caught in your 'wickedness' or 'bad tendencies.' The words speaking to your heart are 'wicked lies' which revolve around 'thinking too much of yourself.' Psychologists will tell you that the way you think about the world deeply affects you. (Linguists would add that the words you think also have a great impact.) More or less, the analogy would go this way: we develop certain patterns of thinking (pathways through the snow), and our brains on automatic pilot follow those same patterns (walk the already cleared path). So when we sin or develop those unhealthy (negative, me-centered, etc) pathways in the brain, they are self-perpetuating in their proliferation of lies that 'lead to nothing good.' Instead, we as
Christians are challenged to listen to different words, not created by sin or evil tendencies, but those we hear from God in prayer, in Bible Study, in communion with other believers. Thinking of the image created by Robert Frost, we'll take the 'road less traveled' ... listening to and thinking on our God who speaks to our hearts. Lord, help my heart to listen to and follow paths that lead to You.
A Loving Heart
Mark 16:1-20
"After Mary saw Jesus, she went and told his followers, who were very sad and were crying." (Mark 16:10)
Sometimes it seems all too distant, too far away to remember that again... just like the Israelites in the desert, the disciples didn't know the end of the story. Of course, we can read back on the scriptures and criticize them, or we can try to understand the pain and sadness and overwhelming emotions involved in any death. And then imagine how this must've been compounded by the type of death they'd seen their Lord and Master succumb to, when they knew of His power and greatness.
They were crying. Tears come out of great emotion. And I believe that we cannot come to the cross this Easter without our heart and spirit and our emotions. My grandmother was Russian Orthodox and as such, symbols were a big part in understanding the scriptures. At Easter, they would walk into the church where everything was dark, covered with heavy black draperies and a table covered with black to represent a casket or Jesus' death. Afterward, they would walk around the church in mourning and solemnity... contemplating Jesus' death. During this time, the sanctuary was transformed into a place of gladness with light and bright Easter colors and the image of Jesus was uncovered. All entered into the joy of Easter morning and a risen Lord and Savior. There is no one perfect way to celebrate or capture the heart of Easter, but it is important that we feel it... with a heart that aims to love in order to emulate this ultimate act of love.
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