Last Sunday I preached about pleasing God in secret, for him alone, instead of doing religious deeds to be seen by others. Many of you connected with that message. Much of what we do is designed to get a response from someone--a parent, a spouse, a co-worker or boss, and even God. We want affirmation and we go to great lengths seeking it.
Spiritually, this sometimes results in busy lives that are filled with action. We hide behind layers of activity, believing that pleasing God is about doing the right things...and enough of them. We so desire God's "reward" (Matthew 6) that we tire ourselves out to obtain it. Without realizing it, we try to manipulate God through the actions we perform for him.
But how is God's blessing received? Jesus taught that it is given by God in secret. In other words, we receive God's blessing when our hearts are healthy: pure and focused on God alone, not to manipulate him or to be seen by others.
The Psalms affirm this as well. In Psalm 24, the writer asks, "Who shall stand in [God's] holy place?" The context of the psalm is the royalty of God--the earth is his kingdom; he is the King of glory, strong and mighty in battle. How will one go before him?
The answer is simple: Not with quantity of actions, regardless of how good those actions are. Rather, we go before God with purity of heart with a clean life (24:4). The proper response to God is always a pure heart. It is "heart health" that God desires. Get the heart healthy first, and everything else follows.
What is your heart health like? Are you tired, full of anger and bitterness? Or full of joy and love in God's presence?
Spiritually, this sometimes results in busy lives that are filled with action. We hide behind layers of activity, believing that pleasing God is about doing the right things...and enough of them. We so desire God's "reward" (Matthew 6) that we tire ourselves out to obtain it. Without realizing it, we try to manipulate God through the actions we perform for him.
But how is God's blessing received? Jesus taught that it is given by God in secret. In other words, we receive God's blessing when our hearts are healthy: pure and focused on God alone, not to manipulate him or to be seen by others.
The Psalms affirm this as well. In Psalm 24, the writer asks, "Who shall stand in [God's] holy place?" The context of the psalm is the royalty of God--the earth is his kingdom; he is the King of glory, strong and mighty in battle. How will one go before him?
The answer is simple: Not with quantity of actions, regardless of how good those actions are. Rather, we go before God with purity of heart with a clean life (24:4). The proper response to God is always a pure heart. It is "heart health" that God desires. Get the heart healthy first, and everything else follows.
What is your heart health like? Are you tired, full of anger and bitterness? Or full of joy and love in God's presence?
