After studying Matthew 5-6 this past week I am more convinced that Jesus is consumed with capturing our heart. So what does it really mean when Jesus wants our heart? I’ve been thinking about that this week and I arrived at some conclusions, but am far from having it all figured out. In the passage I’ve been studying this past week, Jesus is speaking primarily to His followers and wants them to know they should be distinct from the religious people that surround them. Now, I’m a high school pastor and I spend much of my time warning my students about the dangers of the world, but I spend little time warning them of the dangers that lie within the four walls of our church. Why did Jesus focus so much of His sermon on combating the twisted ideas of the so-called religious people? The answer is simple, yet complex…religious people develop their own “flavor” of Christianity and seek to spread that their version is the right one. The scribes and Pharisees were schooled in the teachings and interpretation of the Old Testament, but they had also created their own set of rules to go alongside it. Anyone who didn’t follow all the rules must not be spiritual. The problem gets bigger because people who are following these man made rules find security in measuring up to the standards these religious people had established and in turn feel good about where they are in their relationship with God. The formula looks like this…outward obedience=God is happy. Inner attitudes and actions don’t matter because I am following the rules. Outward obedience never leads to true change. Outward obedience to God must be driven from a heart that loves Him. Let’s turn our attention back to the ten commandments found in Exodus 20. Some would say that they are a list of rules which lead to spirituality; however, I disagree. Simply obeying rules doesn’t mean my heart is right. There are rules everywhere that I follow but don’t like. I outwardly obey them, but inside I am angry I have to follow them. When I only outwardly obey the creator of those rules, it does not bring me closer to him but actually drives me away. This is exactly what Jesus was warning against. He didn’t want people to follow rules because it made them feel good about themselves (or made them look good in front of others) but because they actually loved the Creator of the rules knowing that He created them for protection and ultimately out of love. Jesus only desires inward obedience. Am I saying that outward obedience is not important? Absolutely not! When our heart desires to obey our actions will follow; on the other hand, when we obey from a bitter heart we will abandon our faith. How can we make sure our heart is right? It has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with God. Every day I must humble myself before Him asking Him to control my heart…it’s passions, desires, and affections. I will never obey God on my own so I need His strength (Philippians 4:13).
Dear God, here is my heart. Take control of it at the beginning of each day and help it to remain in Your possession every second of the day. I let go of my desires and recognize that my heart was created to worship You alone.
