God’s Heart, God’s Voice

(11-21-04)

Jn.1:1-14

 

          God has deep concern for the condition and fate of the world. It is true and in a small way I can relate, I have children and grandchild, and also others who He has given me to be concerned for. Can you relate or connect to God’s heart in some small way? Paul in writing to Timothy urges him to be pro-active in his concern. What I mean by that is that Paul gives Timothy a glimpse of God’s heart. (1Tim.2:1-7)  “…God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth…”

          What is God’s heart concerning the people of the world? His heart is plain, he wants men and woman to be saved and in crossing over from death to life grow in their knowledge of the truth. What is also important to know is that like faith , truth must be lived, it is not just a recipe in a moldy book. Truth is living life. Jesus was truth, his life was truth. When we live in sin we live a lie.

          God’ s heart is clear on this matter, and he wants us to be  the pounding of that heart. Peter tells us that He is patient with us because he does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2Pet.3:9) Now a question comes to mind; if God is that concerned for the fate of the lost, what is He doing about it? Waiting for you to care about it enough to do something in demonstration of that care and concern.

          That is right, He is waiting for His people, His Church, to care enough about it to get on their knees and fight for their lives. Look again at Paul’s words to Timothy.  “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone..” (1)

Why make requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings for everyone? Because God wants all men and woman to be saved. The demonstration of a persons knowing God intimately is having the same heart and that is shown or demonstrated by how that heart moves us to act. If I say I am concerned and do nothing, what does my doing show about the depth of my concern? Have you prayed for someone this week who you know personally that is still lost?

God is waiting in deep sorrow for His people to act upon their convictions. Not that God is not present and active in the world despite the Church but the truth is that it is through the Church that He works and speaks. His angels, who are sent to serve, are in the break room still waiting for someone to send them to their labor and purpose by making requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving. Have you engaged their service on behalf of anyone this week?

God’s heart must beat in your veins and His voice must be heard through your lips. You are called to speak his plea for the lives of the world perishing. People are living their lives in misery and deep and painful slavery to cruel masters that care nothing for them. We can see the visible signs of their beaten lives written in their faces and God cries for them and Jesus died for them. The least the Church can do and the first and greatest thing the Church can do is care enough to pray.

Lord be merciful! We talk about wanting to see the Church grow; it begins in our heart and moves from there to our lips and then to our feet and hands. Church growth is a by-product of hearts, lips and hands touched by the Spirit of God and in that touching, set on fire. Lord touch our hearts, our lips, and our hands with the fire of your Spirit!