My pastor has been teaching from the book of Galatians and going
through the book in an expository manner. (Verse by verse) One of the main
themes is that Paul is shocked that they have been deceived away from the
gospel to another. (First chapter) Over and over again arises the concept that
if you ADD anything to the gospel, then it is no longer the gospel. Jesus paid
it all, so I'll add just a little flavor. Doesn't really sound the same I
guess.
Anyway.
I have been reading exodus for the last
month or so and finished last week. I then began a word study on the word
'Sacrifice'. The word is used 120 time in the Word of God and 96 of those times
would be found in the Old Testament. In just a few short hours I had answered
so many questions I had before, and ended with about 1700 more questions (young
man syndrome I suppose). However, a verse that I underlined in Exodus kept
coming to my memory 30:38. For a little context just read the whole Bible. It
will make more sense that way. The verse reads, "Whosoever shall make like
unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people." Yeah
so like I said, maybe go read the whole bible first, otherwise this maketh none
sense at all. The point that is being made, is that God does not get more
impressed by our worship if we dress it up and make it all flashy (or in that
days case, smelly). In my own life that translates very directly. I don't have
to be the worshiper that everyone else tells me I should be, but rather the
intentions and directions of my worship is what matters to God. Matthew 12:34b
says," Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”. This leads
me to my next point. You WILL talk about what you love most, and because you do
this, the people around you can testify to what you love. "By their fruit
ye shall know them" never rang truer.
So. (My mother is cringing at my grammar)
Let us wrap this whole thing up. Three times this week I heard someone say, or
saw someone write this statement. "They can't judge me because they don't
know my heart. The bible says that man looks on the outward, but God looks on
the inward."
While it is true that the Scriptures teach
that God is the only one who knows your heart, the first part of that verse is
equally important. Man’s conception of your heart can be what someone uses to
decide to follow Jesus or not. Therefore I conclude that we as Christians
should apply BOTH PARTS OF THE VERSE AND NOT JUST WHAT WE WANT IT TO SAY. Have
you ever eaten a Twizzler? You know how if you are careful enough you can pull
each individual strand apart? Sometimes we have a tendency to try to do the
same thing with scripture so that we get the part that we want. Remember, the
rest of the Twizzler is still there. Likewise, when we are not rightly dividing
the word of truth, we forget the rest of the Twizzler. Don't try to twist the scriptures, saints. It
only makes you look foolish.
