A True Knowledge of God.

“But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!” ­– Jeremiah 9:24 NLT

“‘They do not know me,’ says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:3b NLT). Among all the accusations God levels against His people, this is probably the most telling one. It explains their actions and attitudes. It begins to make some sense of the way they had been living their lives and treating their God. They just didn’t know Him. They didn’t know His heart or understand His character. And because they didn’t know Him, they didn’t understand His Law and the reason He had given it in the first place. It just became a list of rules and regulations to keep. It because burdensome and not beneficial. They had somehow mistakenly assumed that because they had the Law, the Temple, and were designated as God’s chosen people, they were safe. Yet God accused them of not even knowing His Law, of desecrating the Temple and of not living lives that reflected their position as His chosen people. Their lifestyles did not reflect a knowledge or understanding of God.

They were more apt to boast in their own wisdom, power and wealth, than in God. They put more confidence in those things than they did in God. But God said that what was really worth boasting about was having a knowledge of Him. They didn’t understand the love of God. The Hebrew word for this kind of love is hesed and it refers to loyalty, loving kindness, steadfast love, unfailing devotion, merciful love. If they truly understood that their God loved in that way, they would have turned back to Him. But instead, they refused to return. They also didn’t understand that their God was a God of justice and righteousness. He had to do what was right. He had to punish sin, but He also had to provide salvation. He had to keep His promises. Because He is righteous. The Hebrew word for righteousness is sedaqa and it carries with it not only the idea of rightness and integrity, but salvation and deliverance. God was going to do what was right on the earth. He would not and could not tolerate sin, injustice, and indifference to His will. But the people of Judah did not understand any of this, because they didn’t really know Him.

They also didn’t know that God expected His people to delight in and live according to these same qualities of love, justice, righteousness, integrity and truth. To truly know God is to put a high value on what He values, and to make them a part of our lives. This is not about what you want or what the world agrees upon as the standard for living, but what the living God of the universe deems of value and worth. It is about knowing and understanding the character and will of God, and making His priorities our own. When we truly know God, we will want to see the character and qualities of God displayed in our own life – unfailing love, justice, mercy, righteousness, and fairness. Our lives will reflect that we know God and love what He loves. One of my favorites prayers in the Bible is a prayer that Paul prayed on behalf of the Christians living in Colossae. He said, “Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need” (Colossians 1:9-11 NLT).

Father, You have chosen to have a relationship with mankind. You have chosen to make Yourself known to us through Your Word and Your Son, Jesus Christ. You have displayed Your character through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. You have given us a glimpse into your character through the revelation of Your Word. We have no excuse for not knowing who You are and what You are all about. But give us an increasing desire to know You. To learn to know You better and better. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Don’t Follow Your Heart.

“But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.” ­– Jeremiah 7:24 NLT

Following your heart’s desires can be a dangerous activity – unless your heart happens to be devoted to God. But for many of us, just like the Israelites, our hearts are driven by something other than obedience and devotion to God. We are heavily influenced by the world and motivated by passions that are less-than-godly. James said, “Temptation comes from our own desires which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15 NLT). Our hearts are the center of our will and emotions, our thinking and decision-making. In Hebrews we read, “let us draw near [to God] with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscienceand our bodies washed in pure water” (Hebrews 10:22 NET). We have had our hearts purified by the work of Christ on the cross. But even as believers we can allow our hearts to turn from God. The writer of Hebrews warns us, “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ” (Hebrews 3:12-14 NLT).

God is all about heart transformation. He wants to change the very center of our being, where decisions are made, from where our emotions flow, the very source of our thinking, actions, and attitudes. Jesus said, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45 NLT). What flows from our heart is an indicator of the condition of our hearts. Lust, greed, worry, anxiety, fear, anger – all these things reveal the condition of our hearts. They also reveal the allegiance of our hearts. We are loving something other than God – either ourselves, the world, or both. God wants our hearts. He wants our devotion. He wants our wills to be dedicate to Him. He isn’t interested in our all our “spiritual” sacrifices, activities, and religious busyness. In fact, God told the people of Judah, “When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’” (Jeremiah 7:22-23 NLT). God wanted their obedience – obedience that came from the heart, out of love and a sense of devotion. But instead, “they kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts” (Jeremiah 7:24b NLT). When our hearts are in tune with and in touch with God, they can lead us effectively and safely. When we allow our hearts to drift away from Him and become influenced by the world and our sinful nature, we run the risk of making unwise and potentially harmful decisions. Following the desires of a heart that is not devoted to God can be a dangerous habit. But a heart that is devoted to God, influenced by the Word of God, and empowered by the Spirit of God will lead us to faithfully obey God.

Father, it’s all about the heart. Continue to change mine. Keep me in Your Word so Your Spirit can speak to my heart, cleansing me from self-worship and pride. Make my heart increasingly more tender towards You. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

No Heart For God.

“They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’” ­– Jeremiah 5:24 NLT

This is all about the heart. Yesterday we talked about stubbornness of heart. The people of Israel had grown callous and cold, their hearts were no longer sensitive toward God. They were stubborn and hard-headed, determined to live their lives their own way, rejecting God and His ways. These were the people of God. He had chosen them. He had rescued them out of bondage in Egypt. He had led them across the wilderness; feeding, leading, clothing, guiding, instructing, and providing for them all along the way. He had given them the land He had promised them. He had given them His Law. He had provided them with His tabernacle and the assurance of His presence. He had displayed His power over and over again. He had given them victory in battle, cities they had not built, homes they had not constructed, vineyards they had not planted, and a life they did not deserve. And in return, they had rejected Him. But what would cause someone to react that way to the One who had done so much for them? They didn’t really know Him. To them, God was nothing more than a disembodied force, a power they could tap into when it was convenient. He was a resource that could prove handy at certain times, but a little restricting at others. They had no real respect for God. No awe. No regard for His power, majesty, might, holiness, justice, and righteous standards. Which is why God asked, “Have you no respect for me? Why don’t you tremble in my presence?” (Jeremiah 5:22 NLT). They had no understanding or knowledge of God. They did not connect the dots. “They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right'” (Jeremiah 5:24 NLT). Even the simplistic realization that their very existence was tied to God did not help them develop a healthy respect for Him. They couldn’t see that their ability to eat, live, and survive were directly linked to God. Because they were foolish and senseless, unable to see and hear (Jeremiah 5:21).

They had lost the ability to recognize God in their midst. They could no longer see His power, hear His voice, or comprehend what He was doing in their midst. They even denied that He was doing anything at all (Jeremiah 5:12-13). They viewed God as distant, disembodied and disinterested in what they were doing. So they no longer listened to what He was saying. They had developed stubborn and rebellious hearts (Jeremiah 5:23). The Hebrew word for “heart” is leb and it does not refer to the organ that pumps blood. It is talking about the mind, the seat of the emotions, our capacity for understanding. It is what drives our actions and behaviors. Their hearts were no longer sensitive to God. They had no sense of God. They did not thing about God. He was not a part of their decision-making process. They rejected His Word, refusing to listen to what He had to say. They didn’t really know Him. They didn’t understand Him. So they rejected Him. They replaced Him. And in doing so, they offended Him. But God continued to offer them a chance to return. He said, “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16 NLT). Stop, open your eyes, see what God has been doing and is doing all around you. Live your life according to His terms – the godly way. Develop an understanding of and appreciation for God. He desires for us to know Him, not just know about Him. He wants to reveal Himself to us. He wants to display His power around us. But like the Israelites, we say, “No, that’s not the road we want!” (Jeremiah 6:16b NLT). And we miss out on knowing God.

Father, we live lives blinded by the things of this world. We can’t see You for who You really are. We can’t hear You because we are so busy listening to the noise of this world. We don’t know You. We just know about You. Our knowledge of You is limited and incomplete. Open our eyes and ears, help us to see You in our midst. Help us to understand who You really are. Take the blinders off so that our understanding of You can expand and our respect for You can increase. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

A Change of Heart.

“Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord.” ­– Jeremiah 4:3-4 NLT

The people of Judah needed a change of heart. They needed to return to the Lord in submission and obedience, but their hearts were preventing them from doing so. They stubbornly clung to their own will and did thing their own way. God told them, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more” (Jeremiah 4:1 NLT). They could return – if they wanted to. But their return to God would be predicated on their hearts having changed, because that was the source of their problems. Their hearts were hard – like hard-packed, sun-baked soil where only thorns could survive. They were characterized by pride and obsessed with their own power. Self-centeredness and self-sufficiency were destroying them. But until they admitted it and humbled their hearts before God, nothing was going to change – including God’s determination to bring destruction on  them.

The only thing preventing them from enjoying the blessings of God again was the stubbornness of their own hearts. In the Hebrew, God somewhat graphically tells them to “circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskin of your heart” (Vs 4). He uses a reference to the rite of circumcision, giving by God to the people of Israel as a sign of their distinctive relationship to Him. It was a physical reminder of their everlasting covenant with God as His chosen people (Genesis 17:9-14). Every Jewish male was to have been circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. But now God was telling them to circumcise their hearts. Removing the foreskins of the heart meant they were to remove the lusts and longings of the heart that were driving them to turn from God and seek after idols. God was looking for heart change and still is. Over in his letter to the Romans, Paul says, “For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people” (Romans 2:28-29 NLT).

True circumcision is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. The Jews did not have the benefit of God’s indwelling Spirit. Their heart change was complicated by a lack of ability. Their efforts at attempting to keep the Law and love God were hampered by their own flesh. They were sinful human beings trying to live sinless lives. And they were failing. But we have the Holy Spirit. As believers we are filled with the very presence and power of God. We have the capacity to change our hearts and therefore, completely alter our behavior. And God is going to do the same thing for the Jews one day. He has promised it over in the book of Ezekiel. He will one day make it possible for the Jews to do what was once impossible – love and serve Him faithfully. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart” (Ezekiel 36:25-26 NLT). God is one day going to do for the Jews what He has done for every one of us as believers. He is going to replace their hearts of stone with hearts that are tender and responsive toward Him. Because He knows that our hearts, left unchanged, are incapable of loving Him. Only God can change the human heart. Only He can give us the capacity to love and be loved, to serve faithfully, to sacrifice our wills willingly, to obey Him completely, to love others selflessly. God is about permanent heart transformation, not temporary behavior modification. And only He can make it happen.

Father, You have given me a new heart. You have given me a new capacity to love You faithfully and obediently. But because of my sin nature, I still struggle. I still find it easy to give in to my old self and turn away from You. May Your Holy Spirit find my life like well-plowed soil, receptive to His efforts at cultivating holiness in my life. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org