Jesus answered them, “How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you! You are hypocrites, just as he wrote: ‘These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away from me.’” —Mark 7:6 (GNT)
As you grow in your Christian walk, one thing you must avoid at all costs is honoring the Lord with your words while your heart is far from Him. This might not seem like a big deal, but it is exactly what many believers are doing today. They are always in church and committed to its activities, but outside the building, their hearts are far from the Lord. This is why I often tell people: it is not enough to just be in church; is your heart really after God? As simple as this question might sound, we must ask it regularly to keep ourselves in check.
The Pharisees in the days of Jesus were exactly like this. They honored God with their mouths, but they were not genuinely interested in Him. Their hearts were far from the Lord. This is why Jesus told them, “How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you! You are hypocrites, just as he wrote: ‘These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away from me.’” —Mark 7:6 (GNT). Did you catch that? We must be mindful not to fulfill this prophecy in our own lives.
Make a conscious decision to not only talk about God, but to let your heart truly pant after Him. Let your heart observe His ways, and be willing to give Him what He truly desires. God wants fellowship and worship. He seeks men and women who are genuinely concerned about His agenda of reconciling humanity back to Himself. He desires individuals who are willing to lay down their resources and care deeply about the work of the ministry.
The early church understood this well. The Bible records, All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed. Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts, praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. —Acts 2:44-47 (GNT)
Do you know why the Lord added to their numbers? It was because they knew what God wanted and gave it to Him. Their hearts were truly after God, and as a result, they grew. This same growth is possible today if believers will turn their hearts back to God. I encourage you today: do not merely talk about God; let your heart honor Him as well. Praise God!
Today’s Rhema
Christian maturity is achieved when your heart truly pants after God!
Prayer
Father, I am grateful for this eye-opening message. I choose today not only to honor You with my words, but to let my heart continually pant after You, because this is where true life is found. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
