by: Pastor Lonnie Phillips
Is the human heart capable of governing itself?
In Jeremiah 17:9 we read, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
In Proverbs 14:12 we read, "There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way to death."
As I think about what has been transpiring in our nation, in cities, in churches and in families over the past 10 months, I can't help but think so many are relying on their own wisdom and understanding and believe that the opinion they are holding is the right opinion.
We are a nation and people that embrace self-governance but if we don't understand the reality that we need God to govern our heart then our future will be one of destruction and it will not matter who is President.
I have opinions on politics, morals, the church and family, and I can have very strong opinions. However, if I don't bring my opinions and lay them before the Lord to be tested by His word through the Holy Spirit within the church body, I can easily believe I am in the right and be very wrong.
The violence, looting and rhetoric we are witnessing is a manifestation of a people who have given themselves to strong opinions and acting on those opinions which is bringing about the death of this nation.
It isn't a better heart that is needed but an altogether new heart that Christ came to give. It is only in Christ Jesus where we see the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26 which says,
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Notice, we cannot give ourselves a new heart. It is God and He alone who must give it to us and He has, to all who have surrendered their lives to His Son, Jesus Christ and received forgiveness of sins. To receive Christ Jesus is to receive a new heart that is capable of following God's ways and not our own.
Let us be faithful in bringing our thoughts and emotions to Jesus Christ, the Lord, so that He continues to have Lordship over our lives.
Is the human heart capable of governing itself?
In Jeremiah 17:9 we read, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
In Proverbs 14:12 we read, "There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way to death."
As I think about what has been transpiring in our nation, in cities, in churches and in families over the past 10 months, I can't help but think so many are relying on their own wisdom and understanding and believe that the opinion they are holding is the right opinion.
We are a nation and people that embrace self-governance but if we don't understand the reality that we need God to govern our heart then our future will be one of destruction and it will not matter who is President.
I have opinions on politics, morals, the church and family, and I can have very strong opinions. However, if I don't bring my opinions and lay them before the Lord to be tested by His word through the Holy Spirit within the church body, I can easily believe I am in the right and be very wrong.
The violence, looting and rhetoric we are witnessing is a manifestation of a people who have given themselves to strong opinions and acting on those opinions which is bringing about the death of this nation.
It isn't a better heart that is needed but an altogether new heart that Christ came to give. It is only in Christ Jesus where we see the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26 which says,
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Notice, we cannot give ourselves a new heart. It is God and He alone who must give it to us and He has, to all who have surrendered their lives to His Son, Jesus Christ and received forgiveness of sins. To receive Christ Jesus is to receive a new heart that is capable of following God's ways and not our own.
Let us be faithful in bringing our thoughts and emotions to Jesus Christ, the Lord, so that He continues to have Lordship over our lives.
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