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| Missing the point, once again |
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For thousands of years, we humans have been prone to missing the basic point God wants us to understand. He chiseled his desire for us into stone,
20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Is there a better articulation of the basic desire of God’s heart toward us anywhere??? We recognize this as the very first of the Ten Commandments. I believe after God etched this one with his finger, he reconsidered and added 9 more just so we might understand what the implementation looks like, given our struggles to see spiritually. Jesus, who had 20/20 spiritual vision, clearly understood the point.
22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.
Thankfully, our God is all about the HEART! He searches the heart (Ps 139:23, Rom 8:27) and fully knows the person. He doesn’t get hung up on behaviors he doesn’t understand. He never comes to the wrong conclusion. He never misjudges anyone. He knows the clumsy desire of our heart to love him!
Yet we so easily miss the point. We put all of our focus on appearances, on what we see and hear. We are so often wrong about what is important to God. And we are wrong about other people. Sometimes we’re so arrogant that we think we know them better than they know themselves!
We don’t see the heart, all we see is what’s going on at the surface. We take great offense at displeasing behaviors (and we think God does too!), rather than seek to understand the heart that motivated the behavior, or perhaps the heart that is obscured by the behavior.
It is so easy to miss the heart. Meaning we’ve missed the point, once again.
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Amen. Just like I was thinking how accepting Christ and repenting of our sins (if it's true) should line up everything in our lives (at least our view, and our actions regarding them, good or bad), so should all guidance and action flow from this simple, but difficult idea to grasp. Kinda flies in the face of all the issues on the more "denominational" arguments present, eh? :) |
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God has given us life and he is the source of everything glorious. Life would be nothing without God so God is everything.
“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in Him and finds it’s purpose in Him.” Colossians 1:16.
If our focus is completely on loving God, then we will always be able to see things and people in this life just the way He sees them. I like to use our church motto in this type of thought....Loving God...Loving You. (if I am loving God first and completely....then how I see others or love others will be just as He does) My heart becomes like HIS. Does that make sense?
Great Post Mike! |
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God said to Samuel, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." David was not a well behaved man all the time, but God saw past his weaknesses and saw into His heart. A heart that was after God's own heart. I am thankful that God judges me based on what He sees on the inside (my sorrows, my motives, my desires, my ambitions ) and not on what I do because if that were the measure, I might as well make my reservations for the Lake of Fire. |
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Grant |
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May 14, 2008 at 9:58pm |
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| Yepperree! Ain't got nothin' mo' to add! |
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| So many misundertandings and mis judgments happen becasue we can't see into the hearts of other people. But it's more then that, appearance...what someone looks like, short or tall, good looking or ... not etc. These things are so important to man that it causes us to behave in ways we shouldn't ...sometimes. And sometimes the heart... that could have been seen if someone looked is missed all together. I wonder.... what would we "see" if everyones eyes were blind? I'm so glad my Lord can see the real me...how I am now and how I will be in the future. Thanks for the great post!!! Grace, mercy and peace to you. |
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| very nice and thanks and that's all true so very true |
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| ...and such is why we add more rule and more rules until we all have such a distorted view of God that we have no idea who He really is....Selah. |
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| It's definitely a progressive process in being conformed into His IMAGE :) Father help us all to see Your Spirit within one another, to hear only Your voice in the vessel, and to take no thought for the rest, but to leave it in Your care, knowing then that it's perfectly placed... It's amazing to me that it Truly is step by small step for all of us, yet His steps are so huge to/within us...none could ever fill his shoes :big smile: |
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Janie |
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May 15, 2008 at 4:31am |
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| Great - and so true - thanks |
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I agree with bro Todd, only God sees hearts. We can't even fully know our own hearts. Our primary focus should be on God's heart! That's the starting place.
No god will stand BEFORE (between God and us) if we seek His heart first. Our hearts go so easily out to other things; if we are not careful, those "things" can become "gods" and insulate us from God's heart. The "Ten Commandments" are a revealing of God's heart toward Him and others.
Thanks for the re-focus reminder Mike :) |
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| I caught a glimpse of this once GOD || Things, people, concepts, etc. || me/us. God doesn't want any "insulation" between Him and us in our relationship with Him. This is God's heart .. GODme/us. It is ALL about the heart: God's heart and ours. |
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Ya drove it home Mike!
WTG |
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| Mike: between you and Bro Todd........it's all said! |
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Glenn |
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May 15, 2008 at 5:57am |
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"We don’t see the heart, all we see is what’s going on at the surface. We take great offense at displeasing behaviors (and we think God does too!), rather than seek to understand the heart that motivated the behavior, or perhaps the heart that is obscured by the behavior."
Mike this is often so true. We become offended by the actions we see that seem wrong, yet don't know the whole circumstances behind the actions, let alone the heart that is being concealed there. We want to judge the behavior without understanding the motives. I am reminded "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matt. 7-1&2.
Just what popped into my head reading your thoughts.
peace |
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Mike, Such valid points here. If we would take a minute to step out of "ourselves" when someone else is hurting, or has what we call an attitude, to find out what is REALLY GOING ON!! That would mean we are putting others first! What an awesome concept, unfortunately like you said we are to busy worrying about us to do such a thing and how others would look at us, to go out of the comfort zone!
As for "God knowing the heart" this scripture and the way some people use it to benefit their own selfish desires is what always gets me. I like to say back (discerningly of course and lovingly) "Oh Yes He does!!!"
Great post....Thanks for all the wonderful Nuggets in here!!! |
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22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.
The first and greatest commandment "You shall love YOUR GOD with ALL" and yet we inch out our love to him. We put everything that seems to be important to us before him. We expect him to understand because he knows what we are going through at the moment. YES, Mike we have missed the point. If it was not FOR HIM, by his grace and mercy, we would not be here going through the triviailities(sic) that we go through. Love me with all of your heart and not the surface love. In loving him this way he also wants us to love one another the same way. It is much harder to deal with each other in this world with the same kind of love - but that is what he wants us to do. Show his love by doing for others as he would and does for us...
Father, I thank you everyday for exploring my heart and seeing my true wishes and desires to serve you and only you. Forgive me for my moments of weakness when this old world seems to take hold and will not let me go... Continue to prompt and guide me on the narrow road home.
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My hubby has to deal with alot of people, from all walks of life, in his job. I told him that when he's dealing with attitudes or even poor work performance by those people, he needs to do two things...first, unlike alot of management attitudes, he needs to know the people who work for him, find out about their families, their life, their personalities and keep up with what's going on with them, if they're willing to share. Then second, when attitudes or poor work performance happens, he can go to them and find out what's going on. Alot of times, home filters into work or people clash at work due to personalities and that all figures into work performance.
He, immediately, started doing this.....and suddenly people would come to him asking for prayer for different things. He's even had a few call me on their breaks!
Attitudes alot of times come from hurting hearts.
His boss did not like his closeness to the people who work for him. The man didn't even know the names of the people, how sad. In fact, my hubby got written up for being close to them! I started praying and God is faithful....my husband now works under a christian boss who understands his work ethic...PTL
I had one lady tell me that while she was going through a divorce that her performance was bad at work and that my husband probably should have fired her.....but he didn't....once through the divorce and knowing she had a leader who had compassion.....she became what she should be :)
Every expression is a picture of someone's heart......whether happy, hurting, in pain, joyful.....we have to look deeper and have compassion :) |
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'He chiseled His desire for us into stone..."
I read that line and grabbed my reading glasses thinking 'this is going to be really good '
Awesome blog Mike! You're a blessing Brother! |
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| Amen Mike, Our hearts/understanding/motives are so important. And God sees them all. I'm thinking He is nontheless, displeased with certain behaviors. |
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This is so powerful, so true, Mike... thank you.
As you stated so clearly in your blog... God's love and God's ways are simplistic - yet so difficult to understand for those who do not have eyes to see and ears to hear & they 'miss the point' altogether. We have been given an instruction (not suggestion) to forgive... the heart of the matter (seeing with God's eyes) is the reason for not allowing offenses.
Do you suppose that is why Jesus was not 'recognized' or 'believed' even in His home town? If someone is of the flesh, they will see in the flesh. If someone is all about themselves, they will not recognize the heart of another. We have learned that it's all about HIM, however those who have not allowed the spirit of the living God to transform them (yet), it's still all about THEM.
It appears to me that you have been going through a time of GREAT testing lately. Obviously, brother Mike, there is a POWERFUL reward & mandate, calling, ahead for you and your precious family. You are writing with NEW EYES, you are writing with NEW REVELATIONS and you are writing with a GREATER depth of insight (even more than you already had!). Could it all be coming from personal experience, perhaps? If so, then I can encourage you... keep going, Mike... keep allowing God's spirit to transform you into what HE sees for your life... it's bigger than you could ever imagine and I'm in your corner cheering for you... you go, Mike!! Run the race with faith, power and humility and you will SEE the manifestation of His promises for you. See with the heart, as you wrote... and others will take your example. See with God's eyes because someone is watching you who could greatly bless you in the future. Be God's extension on the earth and watch what He will do. Keep writing, keep sharing experiences and these valuable lessons with others... it is POWERFUL, CHISLED IN STONE!! WOW!
I want to be so humble and grateful that I do not miss the point, ever! Thank you, again.
YOU are a blessing to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Go Mike!! |
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| While reading your blog I had a mental picture of God's finger writing in stone. WOW! Awesome!!! ;-) |
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| good thought! We are great at missing the point! I'm so thankful we have a patient, forgiving God. |
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| GEESE LOUISE MIKE! How convicting... ashamedly so... I do this , and I do it alot with my own kids. I am not as patient as I should be, I make decisions many times based on the way the situation looks on the surface, which leads me to over-reacting alot. Good grief... I guess I needed to hear this from someone else other than my kids or my husband. I am praying to seek out the hearts, and know what is behind the situation, rather than react and respond immediatly to it. Thanks again Mike..... ( this kinda felt like a slap on the hand to me.... :( ouch! ) Thank you just the same. The Lord knows when I need to hear from him. |
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Such great comments, ALL deserve a response yet I lack the time! (Sorry!) My thanks to ALL! And....
Melanie, so much wisdom...and so much insight!
Mary, "yet we inch out our love to him"....wow, what an observation!
Charlie, GREAT thoughts on the heart of God!
Voice, yes! Our rules distort our view of God, ironic since they are often instituted to help us serve and please him!
Bro Todd and Paul...bingo! |
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Hey Mike,
I have noticed something about the usual church that I just have to mention. As you say, instead of seeing the heart of a person, we tend to get stuck on appearances.
What is the usual reaction when we see someone leave a church service and immediately light up a cigarette? Or open a beer? Or speak angrily about so-and-so who is always...
It seems as though once we become free of sin we automatically begin to drift toward the 'sinless' instead of helping others sin less. Instead of jumping back into the fray to help those that are fighting for a way out, we simply stand back and praise God we're not like them any more.
It leaves me dissatisfied. It leaves me feeling guilty and ashamed because I'm not able to help them myself right now. |
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| God made it crystal clear to me last night: "Stop getting caught up in trivial things and start saving souls!" He wants us to go back to that one thing. The Great Commission. However, out of our love for each other, ppl will be saved. Like Jesus said, they will know us by our love for each other...at least they are suppose to. So what God said to me just comes down to love. Loving our spiritual family and loving ppl who are heading to hell enough to put aside our fears and insecurites, and go snatch them from the fire! |
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| And how do we get love? By loving God first, cuz He is love. |
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| Very true. Thanks for sharing. |
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Kathy |
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May 15, 2008 at 2:10pm |
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| Great message, Mike! |
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Janie |
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May 15, 2008 at 2:21pm |
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| Love this Mike thanks |
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| A good and true word, Mike! Thanks. We can never hear this too often. |
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Deb |
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May 15, 2008 at 7:06pm |
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| Amen, Mike, great blog. |
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Yes, Ofcourse Mike. God is not a man that He should make mistake. May the Lord help us to be people after God's own heart.
Matts. |
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| Thank you! I so needed this today. |
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| Amen, Brother! There is nothing more to be said to that...that sums it all up completely! Great blog, Mike, thanks! |
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The HEART behind each of these comments (and stars) brings much warmth, cheer, and even healing -- thank you! Give yourselves a hug for me, ok?  |
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“We put all our focus on appearances, on what we see and hear. We are so often wrong about other people. Sometimes we’re so arrogant that we think we know them better than they know themselves!”
The problem with that type of judgment is that it usually has its roots in legalism and not in God’s Word, and many times based upon human opinions and motives. However, should we cover-up unbiblical behavior because we are not to judge another Christian? I hope not!
I personally think that some appearances or behavior are indicators of what is dormant or active in the heart, and that person might be in need of a spiritual U-Turn. Who better to lead that person to the right path than another believer? For instance; a pastor, a youth leader, a Bible teacher, or just a loving brother or sister in Christ can help a weak Christian become a stronger Christian.
I believe that in order for us not fall into legalistic judgment we had to learn to depend on the Holy Spirit to give us his eyes so we can see the heart of the one that is spiritually weak, carnal, or just in need of help. James 5:19-20 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. ;-) |
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| Lourdes, may I say a simple "amen"? |
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The following is excerpted from an email I rec'd in response to this blog -
I believe there are displeasing behaviours that God will take offence even with his understanding of the heart... How else do people end up in Hell if they have not greatly displeased our Lord by committing a grievous sin and not atoned or repented? I find it very hard to believe that the Lord would not be displeased with someone for committing a sin such as murder, raper, abuse etc...
And this is an excerpt of my response -
I cannot disagree with you! I am sure God is extremely displeased with evil actions... But if the actions were heinous, what do you think the heart that motivated those actions looked like? Actions are not irrelevant to God, nor should they be to us. But too often we stop at the action, rather than look beyond, to the heart.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I believe this complements nicely what Lourdes posted a few minutes ago....thank you Lourdes for sharing that wisdom! |
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It sure does! thank you, great great point! If your exposed to something causing you cancer, you not only try to have the cancer removed, but you also elimate the exposure to the cause!
Roots can conseal a much deeper issue, than the color of the leaves might reveal. |
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| Another great post Mike. The heart truly is deceitful making the owner of that heart somewhat deceived as to what is going on there. For example I was listening to a podcast from Redding California ( yes way up here in the great white north :-) ) and as I was listening I was thinking how good it would be if my friend could here this teaching. It addressed just the type of problems "she" had and this could help her get on track. I was listening really hard and was wide open to what was being spoke when he turned the corner hard left and gave an example that described me not her. It was so plain that this was an issue in my heart that there was no defense or denial. I really had no idea. Sometimes the Holy Spirit teaches me that way. When I think we are talking about someone else I'm all ears and I'm not trying to justify anything or defend myself because we are talking about person x which is just so safe to talk about. :-) I actually like when He exposes stuff this way because I know He's doing it for my good and I find it funny that He out manouvers me. I don't know your heart anymore than mine but I like that things you ponder and share with the rest of us. |
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| Man Mike, I think this will preach! |
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One lesson that I learned the hard way is: Our desires and our intentions are two different things. He knows the difference. I might intend to do something, but if my desire isn't there, then I will probably find an excuse and fail to do it. He is a Just and Loving God. We always have good intentions, but what do our hearts really say? As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is. Father, you see the desires I have. Purge and refine me of anything that isn't pleasing to You. Fill me to overflowing with Your Goodness and Your Desires.
Thanks Mike. I like this one. |
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Outstanding Mike!
Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as "the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity," "the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will," and "the center of a person. The place to which God turns." J. Stowell, Fan The Flame, Moody, 1986, p. 13. |
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Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Prov 4:23)
Your comment brings this verse to mind, Pastor Tim. Apparently Solomon got the point, at least when he wrote that Proverb! |
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Mike, I'm thinking that, as an example............Anger tries to swallow us..... toward the man who dangerously just cut us off in highway traffic ! That is what we know ! What we don't know.........He just received word that his wife/son/mom/sister/ etc. is horrifically injured, and is making his way to their side !!! |
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