More Than A Feeling

One of the ways the devil likes to gain a foothold into our lives, is through our emotions.  He is intimately acquainted with our vulnerability to our own emotions.  This is why our feelings cannot define our relationship with God, because our feelings change from day to day.  But God never changes.  This is also why our feelings cannot dictate our response to God's truth.  Because His truth doesn't change either. 

However, one of the greatest weapons in our enemy's arsenal is our emotions.  If he can appeal to our emotions, if he can get us wrapped up in them, distracted by them, and ultimately consumed by them, then he has gotten his foot into the door of our heart.  He has gained access into our lives to begin building a foundation of lies.  He's done this with many things the Bible calls sinful, but that the world has tried to excuse.  He has ensnared us into complacency by appealing to our emotions.  He has so crippled us with lies, that we do not have ears to hear the truth. 

Any weakness we may have toward something that the Bible defines as sinful, does not serve to redefine it.  Nor does it mean that we can't love those who have weaknesses toward certain sins, but it does mean that our love for them cannot redefine what the Bible considers sinful.  For many, this may be a hard truth to bear, but it is truth nonetheless. 

One thing I know, is that we live in a time in which we need more voices crying out in the wilderness to, "Make straight the way of the Lord." (John 1:23). 

We need more disciples who will preach repentance, "They went out and preached that men should repent." (Mark 6:12).  

We need more watchmen on the wall who will not keep silent, "I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent.." (Isaiah 62:6). 

 

But alas, the Church is wounded.  We are eaten up with compromise, rebellion and pride.  We are slaves to our emotions, giving our allegiance to what we feel, rather than to what God says. 

"For this people's heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.'" (Matt 13:15)

"But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:30,31)

"But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. They made their hearts like stone so as not to obey the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets;" (Zech 7:11,12)

"For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." (Rev 3:17)

"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?  I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind...to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds." (Jer 17:9,10)