God Knows Our Hearts

Over the years I’ve heard many Christians say “God knows my heart.”  Usually they say it after they make some kind of mistake and this saying is said as a kind of sentiment to reflect that “they meant well” so God won’t mind.  At times it has been used to excuse all sorts of terrible behaviour.

Anyway, I want to examine this phrase for just one moment and see exactly what the Bible has to say about “our hearts.” 

First of all 1 John 3:20 says that “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.”  So yes, He does know our hearts.  However is this a good thing?

In Proverbs 17:3 it says that “God tests our hearts.”  So from this we can conclude that God not only knows our hearts, but that He examines them specifically.  Finally in Jeremiah 17:9 it says that “the heart is deceitfully wicked.”  In other words, our heart lies to us and cannot be trusted.  It is evil and deceitful. 

So if God knows our hearts – thats a bad thing, because our hearts are rotten to the core.  The Bible says elsewhere that “our righteousness is as filthy rags.”  So even that which is our very best, is still just junk in God’s eyes.  What we think is a pure motive still reeks of selfishness.  In fact, what the English Bible has translated as “filthy rags” is none other than “menstrual cloths” in the original intent.  Our very best effort, our purest motive… it’s just a used tampon in God’s eyes. 

So next time you make a mistake, or something doesn’t work out – don’t use the excuse “Its OK, God knows my heart.”  No – pray for grace and keep yourself humble and close to God.  There’s no future in anything else. 

Listen to my MP3 – Is Your Diamond Real? 

Finally, Proverbs 28:26 says “He who trusts in His heart is a fool.”  So don’t assume the best about yourself, don’t trust your motives.  Trust the Lord and cast yourself on His mercy. 

Fishing at Great Keppel Island

On Monday, my son and a few of my brothers and a cousin went fishing out at Great Keppel Island.  My son who is 8 had never been on a boat before and had never been fishing before either.  So it was a great day for him. 

At the beginning of the day I prayed and reminded the Lord that in Bible times he abundantly gave fish to the 12 disciples and the Bible is full of great fishing stories.  I asked if we could have some fish and particularly that my son could catch a fish.  And God answered my prayer. 

In fact it was an exceptional day’s fishing.  We fished in a Blue Zone where normally the fishing is not that good, but even so, we landed about 60 fish.  Many of the fish were good sized, but not big enough to keep.  However we were able to keep ten fish and that night we dined on oven baked stripey.  Delicious!!

As I thought about this I remembered that the Lord told us that we should “follow him” because he wanted to “make us fishers of men.”  God is more interested in people than in fish. 

I realised that if God answered an ordinary prayer for fish, He will certianly hear a prayer of effort regarding lost human beings that are all around us.  If we are faithful, we will see a lot of human fish get caught for God. 

Going Going Gone - Sold for $2.50

Recently my son painted his first piece of artwork, and I was able to list it on eBay for him.  It was purchased for $2.50 by a lady living in Cremorne in Victoria.  Titus was very excited to have sold his painting.  Also, postage was less than we estimated and so he also made an additional $1.80 there.  All up he made $4.30.  Not bad for a nine year old’s first attempt at painting.  Well done Titus. 

The Confession of a Gay Boy

In a hypothetical situation, I am approached by a 11 year old Christian church attending boy who confesses to being gay, and that he fears he will go to hell as a result.  He doesn’t want anyone, especially not his family to know.  What would you do?

We have all heard that homosexuality is an abomination to God.  However, has anyone every done a search of the Bible to see what else is an abomination to God.  Most people don’t take the time to do that.  Here are a few things which the Bible says are an abomination to the Lord: (using King James Version)

• Lying (Proverbs 6:17)


• Pride (Proverbs 6:17)


• Violence (Provebs 6:17)


• Evil Thoughts (Proverbs 6:18)


• Discord (Proverbs 6:19)


• Dishonest Business Practices (Dueteronomy 25:13–16)


• Various Other Sexual Practices (Leviticus 18:18–30)


• Prayer from a Wrong Heart (Proverbs 28:9)


• Our own Righteousness (Luke 16:15–16)

For those actually interested, here is a bible search in the KJV on the word abomination.  Even eating the wrong kind of fish is an abomination to the Lord in the book of Leviticus. 

Basically any sin is an abomination to God because as the Bible says in Hebrews 1:9 that Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness.  Abominations are simply things God hates, which is any sin.  We as humans tend to grade sin on a scale of really bad to not so bad, but in the end all sin is wrong and violates Gods standards.  As such, there are many people who will not find themselves in Heaven on judgement day despite them thinking so. 

So when a boy comes to me as says he has a terrible problem with being gay – this is GOOD NEWS.  It’s good because a heart that is aware of its sin is in the perfect place to receive grace from the Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Why should I be apalled when someone says He is gay but not be apalled when someone says he is a sinner?  Or apalled at my own sin?  In God’s eyes both are apalling.  But in God’s eyes both people are equally loved, and Christ died for both. 

So I can really work with someone who is concerned about the condition of their heart and wants to do something about it.  There is help for people who want help, and the grace of God is ready to flow. 

My response would be to pray for the young man, and to talk him through the issues to discover what he knows, what he believes and to help him find help in whatever way he needs it.  This boy is probably closer to heaven, than most “straight” boys of the same age.  Probably Option B is the closest option to that which I would take.  – David Alley

 

 

The Opposite of Committment

Last week my good friend John Batley and I were talking about our faith, and our church fellowship in Mt Morgan.  John said that he had been thinking about Committment to the Lord and church, and wondering why so many believers didn’t seem to be committed.  He did a google search on the opposite of committment and found this page from wordhippo.  The opposite of committment is indifference.  Makes sense. 

Chappy Week in Mt Morgan

Chappy Week is an annual event, a week every year to remember school chaplains and what they do, and to promote the work of chaplains.  This year Chappy Week is May 16 to 23. 

In Mt Morgan as part of Chappy Week, we are having a breakfast ($10 a head) to raise money towards chaplaincy, and also to promote what chaplains do in general, and in specific in Mt Morgan.  David Alley, our local chaplain at both our schools will be the guest speaker.  For information about other things happening for Chappy Week see the website – http://chappyweek.org.au/

Below is the flier reproduced for the occasion.  RSVP by Wed 19^th May. 

 

---

Mount Morgan Chaplaincy Committee

warmly invites you to

Breakfast

   7:00 a.m. Saturday

22 May 2010

Footbridge Corner/Centrelink

 Cornes Street, Mt Morgan

 

Guest Speaker:

 

David Alley

School Chaplain

Meet our Chaplains … stay informed.

                                            

 

Fine food, fellowship, facts and …

funds for Chaplaincy … fantastic!

 

 

Donation: $10.00 per person

 All proceeds aid Mt Morgan Chaplaincy

RSVP by Wed 19^th – David Alley 0429363811 or david@mtmorgan.com

 

Titus Alley - Famous Painter

My son Titus has declared to the family that he is going to be a famous painter one day.  So he decided to actually paint something to that end.  So here is his first painting – not bad for a ten year old.  If he actually becomes famous, this painting will be worth millions one day – but right now, we are selling it on eBay with a starting bid of $2.50.

Book Review - Holy Community

This book (available at Amazon) is interesting because it takes a look at Pentecost in a whole new way. The book says that before 1901 when the whole tongues and "Pentecostal" movement got underway, people viewed the Baptism of the Spirit differently. They did actually believe in such a thing, and they believed that the results of it were increased holiness and increased ability to witness powerfully. Now it seems people just equate Pentecost and the Baptism of the Spirit with gifts. 

This book explores the idea that the Day of Pentecost radically changed the early believers from disagreeing individuals to a people of Holy Community. It says that the Baptism of the Spirit can be corporate and not just individual and it tells the story of Peace Apostolic Community in Rockahmpton, Australia where exactly this happened. It also tells of other historical examples of this happening too. 

This book is a must read. You'll realise the "Pentecostals" are not as pentecostal as they think - and neither is anyone. We all need more of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Baptism of the Spirit - Community. This book will open a window into what this all means.