Matters of the Heart
God is not concerned with what we eat and drink. It is the state of our hearts that matter most to Him.
[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 Amplified
How we live and the choices we make reveal what is really in our hearts. Are we critical and judgmental? Do we consider someone unworthy or wrong based on our own standards?
Jesus is the only One Who is to judge us and what is always His first response? Well, let's look at the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11). When her accusers brought her to Jesus, He paused and wrote in the sand before answering: "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Jesus always responds with mercy and love. He did not come to condemn us (John 3:17) but to give us salvation.
The same message applies to us today. We have no business being critical of each other.
It is because of the sacrifice of Jesus that we are made righteous in God's eyes and we are only acceptable to God when we receive the work of Christ on the cross. Our behavior does not impress God. It does not matter how flawless our performance is, if our heart is full of resentment and bitterness then our work is for nothing. What we believe in our hearts is matters most to Him.
A critical heart is full of turmoil and has no room for peace or joy.
Keeping our hearts free from criticism allows more room for the Holy Spirit.
Heidirn
[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 Amplified
How we live and the choices we make reveal what is really in our hearts. Are we critical and judgmental? Do we consider someone unworthy or wrong based on our own standards?
Jesus is the only One Who is to judge us and what is always His first response? Well, let's look at the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11). When her accusers brought her to Jesus, He paused and wrote in the sand before answering: "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Jesus always responds with mercy and love. He did not come to condemn us (John 3:17) but to give us salvation.
The same message applies to us today. We have no business being critical of each other.
It is because of the sacrifice of Jesus that we are made righteous in God's eyes and we are only acceptable to God when we receive the work of Christ on the cross. Our behavior does not impress God. It does not matter how flawless our performance is, if our heart is full of resentment and bitterness then our work is for nothing. What we believe in our hearts is matters most to Him.
A critical heart is full of turmoil and has no room for peace or joy.
Keeping our hearts free from criticism allows more room for the Holy Spirit.
Heidirn
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