Exposing Your Heart

Good Evening to All!

Today's Seed: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12

Visit any showcase of homes, and you will see beautiful decorations. Underneath the gorgeous cloth-covered tables by the b ed you might find stacks of apple crates.

Like table cloths that hid ugly crates, our appearances often hide our true thoughts, intentions, and attitudes. We may cover them up and make others think we are good Christians. We may even convince ourselves that we are not so bad, but God isn't deceived. He knows our insincerity, unbelief, and hypocrisy. His Word pulls back our beautiful facades to expose the crates in our hearts--crates filled with unethical behavior, long-forgotten sins, selfish motives, and unbelief.

God has no trouble seeing our weaknesses, but we do. God's Word is the tool that corrects our vision. How does it work? When we read a verse or chapter of the Bible, the "Living and active" words shine a bright light into the dark corner of our hearts. The light penetrates into the deepest crevices. It reveals the secret passions, appetites, and intentions that we keep hidden away. But it does more than reveal. it awakens us to the needs for change. Once awakened, we are faced with the question. "Will I make the change?"

Dig Deeper: The Greek word logos is translated "word" in our English Bible. Logos means words, speech, or communication. A definition that was left out was the word "plan". God transmits his truth to us by the use of words.

Weed & Water: The sword of God's Word pierces into the control center of our hearts and divides the good form the bad. It is then up to us to get rid of the bad and keep the good . The only way to do this is to ask God for his help. Bad habits don't change overnight, and we may need to come to our rescue. He may use a sermon, a song, a friend, or the Bible to guide us to freedom.

Sprout & Scatter: There are so many different Bible translations and paraphrases available today, including special Bibles for teens, men and women. Think of a needy person and give them a Bible. If your friend is not open to receiving a Bible, try presenting them with a Christian book that has ministered to you. Just be sure the book you choose contains Scripture quotes.

Think about it: How has the Word of God judged your thoughts and attitudes?

What has God revealed that needs correction?

Prayer Pot: Lord, please show me the contents of my heart and change....(insert your thoughts).

Take-Away Idea: Keep your heart in the right direction, and you won't have to worry about your feet.

I don't usually do this (disagree with the devotional) because I figure whoever wrote the book probably knows more than I do, but on this particular subject, I feel the need to interject. I totally agreed with it for the most part, until I got to "Think about it". I don't know if I'm perceiving the question wrong, or if they meant it to sound the way it did to me. Let me clarify. I personally don't believe that God's Word is judging my thoughts and attitudes, at least not at this time, because God is still working on me. Why would he judge me, my thoughts or attitudes before He is through? Yes, if I do something that displeases Him He will "convict me in my spirit", but that is not the same as judging me. He convicts my spirit to help me understand that I need to change whatever it is He is not happy with. I will not be "judged" until He calls me up before Him on judgment day and then I will be judged by the Bible.

Therefore, I must disagree with that last "thought" exercise and I want anyone else who reads this to do the same. I do not want people worry that God is going to judge them here and now. That would cause a lot of people to feel like "what's the use of trying to change, I'm already being judged, or that it would cause irreparable damage spiritually.

As far as there being so many translations of the Bible, that's all well and good, but just be careful, as there are some that are not completely accurate. They leave important things and scriptures out. Just use them as study Bibles, but always refer back to the King James as it is the most accurate.

When Jesus came to earth He told a woman who was living in sin that He did not come to judge her, so why would He be judging us now?

Other than that, I am in complete agreement with it.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!