Day: January 19, 2012

Religion Is In The Head, But Jesus Christ Is In The Heart

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Joseph Chambers 90x115by Joseph Chambers

Our world is full of head religion without a heart. Jesus Christ said it perfectly,

“This people draw near unto Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.” (Matthew 15:8)

A person that is “Born Again” and right with God is ruled by their heart. Soon after anyone becomes a transformed person, the head and the heart will experience a certain level of conflict. The head says, “I’m the boss” but the heart says,“No you are not, He’s the boss,” and the war is on. This is where the old Methodist would say,“You need to be sanctified.” Sanctification is death to the head and holiness to the heart.

The head can know great facts about truth and Christ, but the heart must be under His mastery before you become a transformed Christian. The Bible says it plainly,

“For as he thinks in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23: 7a)

The heart is where the claims of Jesus Christ are established. Until the heart is involved in total surrender and all life is on the alter that soul is lost.

“It Is The Lord!”

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Oswald Chambers 90x115by Oswald Chambers

Thomas answered and said to Him, ’My Lord and my God!’ —John 20:28

Jesus said to her, ’Give Me a drink’ ” (John 4:7). How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him! We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us. “You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). That means lives of pure, uncompromising, and unrestrained devotion to the Lord Jesus, which will be satisfying to Him wherever He may send us.

Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?

by Oswald Chambers