But it really isn't about this book at all. How many studies have you been through? Experiencing God, Purpose Driven (everything), Return to Holiness, Wild at Heart, various Beth Moore books, yadda, yadda. Where are they now?
We can go through any study out there but it is all in vain if we aren't serious about getting something out of it. If we aren't truly seeking to grow in our relationship with Christ, then no book, not even the Bible, is going to be more than words on a page.
Crazy Love isn't the most life-changing book ever penned. No book on the shelf is "the new gospel." God has spoken to us in His Word and that is sufficient. But these books and studies aren't meant to rewrite our beliefs. They are really just extended sermons; ideas meant to help the reader understand more about where their heart is and sort of help us to steer back on track. Some of these ideas are good, some aren't, some are just plain crap. The Bible instructs us to test these teachings against God's Word and see if they are true or not. The same goes for what we hear from the pulpit, from our teachers, from counselors, and from anyone who speaks the Word.
But what about our hearts? Tonight we read Proverbs 17:3, "...the Lord tests hearts." I hear alot from everyone lately about God and how much we love Him and seek to do the things that please Him. So why is there a vibe that contradicts that? Where are the fruits? Why is there rudeness, pride, apathy, complacency, and selfishness when, if a heart is true to God, there should be compassion, love, humility, unity, and a diligence to our purpose?
Why are we hurting people? Why are we putting ourselves first? Why are we justifying our sins and our attitudes? To put it simply, why are we acting like we have no regard for God? Why aren't we living out the things we teach and hear and talk about? Why do we think we can do things our way?
I'm not sure why this is on my mind, but it isn't just a mood. This is a burden that I've had for a few weeks. I won't water it down by excluding anyone, including myself. Something is going on and I hope everyone will take some time to forget about schedules, routines, busyness, and even Christmas plans. Stop long enough to get serious with God about what is really in your heart. A good dose of brokenness is always a good thing.
Don't ignore the spiritual warfare that is going on. You're not immune to it. The whole point of Satan's plan is to deceive us into thinking he's not even there. If you take a serious look around, and in, you'll see his hands; in the attitudes and actions that are different, and on the faces of those who just don't seem to care about much of anything. Let's allow God to step in.
