In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul tells us “I do not come with eloquence or superior wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God”. I am not the most wise, or well spoken, but I believe that God has given me a message. As I was reading this scripture the other day, I saw that some time ago, I had written in the margin…..”What is the message I come with?” I am not Paul, and the ministry God has given me, though there are similarities, is still my own. So what is My testimony about God? Suddenly I knew…..I do not come with eloquence or superior wisdom, but a testimony that in all things, God is after our hearts.
In all things, God is after our hearts ….. every situation, relationship, good time, and bad, God is after Your heart. The things that happen around and to us create a response in our hearts. When we learn to take our response to God and let Him show us what He is after inside of us, we will grow and change in leaps and bounds. He is also after the hearts of the other people involved, but for you, first and foremost, He is after YOUR heart. When someone else sins, what is your response? God is after that. Not the other persons sin (that’s between Him and them), but the response in your heart is telling of the condition of your heart. Sometimes our response is love and grace and forgiveness….but often it is judgment, criticism, annoyance, frustration, and disappointment (sometimes with the other person, and sometimes with yourself). These moments create an opportunity for us to allow God to teach us something, and then from there, in a spirit of love and grace and humility, allowing God to help us come alongside our brother or sister and talk openly about what is happening so that they too can grow. Remember, that before dealing with sin issues, God first wants us to belong to Him. If people around you are not walking with Jesus, pointing out their sin and expecting them to change is backwards. First, they need to know Christ’s love and grace, then in love, He will begin teaching them how to live a redeemed life. As you focus on yourself and the things that come up in you, Jesus will teach you to love others like never before, and experience His love, grace and kindness in a transformative way.
Keep saying ‘Yes’ to God….allow Him access to the things happening in your heart. When tempted to control, fear, get angry, feel bad about yourself or your circumstance, criticize, judge, fix, find pleasure in things that don’t build up your spirit, or run to others…..stop….recognize that what is happening inside you is a sign that there is a place in your heart God wants to heal, and make you come alive like never before! He is trustworthy. He is after your heart….let Him have it!
