The Lord Is More Pleased When We Do What Is Right And Just, Then We Offer Him Sacrifices
Be Right In Your Heart
PROVERBS 21:2
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
”Proverbs 21:2 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.21.2.NKJ
It is all to easy to mistakenly think that we are doing right while the motives of our heart are very much wrong.
We believers need to understand “”The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV
It is so easy to justify a wrong action with untruths: I can justify the purchase of that car which is way above my budget because: “I deserve it” or “its the only one that will last” or “it’s the only one that is suitable.” I can justify a little white lie because it “causes no harm”, or “it’s to keep the peace”.
“I can justify living with my partner outside of marriage because everyone is doing it, or because we need make sure we are right for each other.”
That is simply trying to justify sin, and is not acceptable in God’s eyes however many people are doing it.
A lie is a lie however big or small, and its father is the devil; when one lies he joins with the world and the devil.
Jesus said, ”If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”“
John 8:42-47 NKJV
So often we make choices that feel good in our flesh but we quickly regret. Furthermore, we make the same mistakes over and over because we refuse to listen and do not hear God.
If we are going to make right choices, we cannot continue to live a lie. ”A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.“
Proverbs 12:11 NLT
We must learn to discern the motives of our heart.
We must ask ourselves would God really be pleased with my real reason for doing this? Are my motives right for doing this good deed?
The heart is part of the flesh which is naturally selfish. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV
Surely, we who are in Christ must crucify our flesh with its passions and desires (GALATIANS 5:24).
Only through the leading of the Holy Spirit (JOHN 14:15-18) and God’s Word can we truly discern our motives and walk in God’s righteousness, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
Paul tells us: “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (ROMANS 12:2). This transformation requires an action; it does not simply happen because we were baptised in water; it requires heart felt commitment to God that can only come through relationship with Jesus, study, understanding, and revelation of the Word, and full cooperation with the Holy Spirit.
It takes effort to turn away from sin toward God, and that is the least one can do (ROMANS 12:1-2).
Jesus did not die that we can continue in sin, but rather, that we can walk in Christ righteousness and be free from the power of sin and death.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
My brethren, the truth is, we are all sinners in need of a Saviour; “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
I John 1:8-10 NKJV
Only through faith and submission can can we truly become right with God; separating from the things of this world that are not good and coming to understand and operate in what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
My beloved, we can only walk right with God by the leading of the Holy Spirit. ”For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.“
Philippians 2:13 NLT
When we walk in the flesh, we will fulfil the lust of the flesh and they are not good.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.“
Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
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