“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
I remember when I was a new believer, knowing almost nothing about Christianity. I couldn’t wait until Sunday to hear the Word of God preached. Frequently I was fighting back tears during the service as the Word pierced my heart. But God was changing my heart and transforming my whole life in these moments when His Word penetrated my heart. It was a glorious time.
I wish I could say that I have maintained such a teachable heart throughout the course of my walk with Christ, but that hasn’t always been the case. I learned how to sit through a message and close my heart from being impacted, all the while nodding my head in agreement with the pastor and saying my fair share of AMENs. How very religious of me…….
But in the mercy of God He send those “wake up” moments where He allows you to see yourself clearly. It isn’t pretty. I had one such moment a few weeks ago.
We had a visiting preacher who shared a very strong message on the lack of compassion in the church from Matthew 25 and also from the story of the good Samaritan. Because this was a subject that the Lord had already been dealing with me about, as I heard the message I was cut to the heart by the Word of God. So much so that I could have wept out loud. I was incapable of issuing forth a single AMEN.
As I sat there wordlessly, reeling from the impact of the message, all around me I heard the excited AMENs from the congregation. And I became angry. I wanted to stand up and shout “DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU?” But really, I was angry at myself for allowing my own heart to become calloused and hardened and for all the times I hadn’t realized he was talking about me. I had become like those in the book of Ezekiel:
As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, “Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. Ezekiel 33:30-32
As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, “Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. Ezekiel 33:30-32
He is my Delight 