God Considers the Heart, Not the Face - Isaiah 1-2 and Galatians 5
Isaiah is a fabulous book of prophecy, in which God called His people back to Himself after their long descent into sin. The truths apply to us today, because God has not changed and neither has the heart of man. In Isaiah's day God had come to the end of His rope with Israel. When they came to worship Him, it made Him sick, because all He could see was their sinful hearts. God never receives people based on outward appearances. The Bible says that He does not look at the face, but the heart. The people were dishonest, idolatrous, and they even shed innocent blood by offering their children to idols. God told them that they had to repent of their sins and be cleansed, or He would have to destroy them. Jesus said the same thing in the Sermon on the mount. God does not receive our worship, if we harbour sin in our hearts and lives. We must make it right first, and then, come to worship Him. Always consider your heart before you go to worship. That is what God sees.
Galatians 5 gives us much the same picture. The Galatian believers were deceived into thinking that they could impress God with their works. Paul said no. God was looking for a heart of faith in Him. He was looking for the fruit of His Spirit within them. If they continued in the works of the flesh, they were not His children at all. Therefore, Paul called on the Galatian believers to renounce the works of the flesh and to live by the power of the Spirit. This is so relevant for us today. We tend to drift away from God and to be satisfied with outward works. Our hearts become set on the works of the flesh instead of showing the fruit of the Spirit. We can't please God in that condition. We need to turn to Him and repent of the works of the flesh. In fact, Paul says "crucify" the flesh. That means to put it to death. Then, we can have a heart that is fully set on the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 3-4 and Galatians 6.
Galatians 5 gives us much the same picture. The Galatian believers were deceived into thinking that they could impress God with their works. Paul said no. God was looking for a heart of faith in Him. He was looking for the fruit of His Spirit within them. If they continued in the works of the flesh, they were not His children at all. Therefore, Paul called on the Galatian believers to renounce the works of the flesh and to live by the power of the Spirit. This is so relevant for us today. We tend to drift away from God and to be satisfied with outward works. Our hearts become set on the works of the flesh instead of showing the fruit of the Spirit. We can't please God in that condition. We need to turn to Him and repent of the works of the flesh. In fact, Paul says "crucify" the flesh. That means to put it to death. Then, we can have a heart that is fully set on the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 3-4 and Galatians 6.