My aunt Mary told me something that stuck with me. I told her I wanted my wedding to be like the Garden of Eden. She responded with “Make sure the Garden of Eden is in you and people will remember your wedding.” It really made me examine myself and not focus on the wedding but on me being a loving and godly person. My late grandmother would say “You can be the most beautiful person in the world, but if your ways are ugly, then you are ugly.” My grandmother also use to say “Charity begins at home and it spreads abroad” (1 Timothy 5:4). What are we as believers doing behind closed doors after we leave church? Are we walking in love? Our speech, is it pleasing to God? Are we complaining? Are we gossiping about people? Are we bitter and unforgiving? Are we bound by sin? Can unbelievers see the power of God operating in us? Do people see the joy of the Lord that attracts people to us? Church, let us examine ourselves daily. Ask for God’s help on the areas that we are struggling in. Once you surrender it to God, the struggle is over.
What we say tells us what is in our hearts. Matthew 12:24 Easy Read Version:You snakes! You are so evil. How can you say anything good? What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts. Luke 6;45 New Living Translation: A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
I looked the part going to church and dressed like I was holy, but Ii was very religious and judgmental. Inside, I wanted to do what I was accusing others of as a teenager. My brother Tom had enough and told me “Who do yo think you are!” “You are no better than anyone else.” I was convicted and cried out to God. I told God to help me. I told God I didn’t want to be the same anymore. God’s word and the Holy Spirit transformed me. It was a process. I am learning that before judging a situation to go to God about it. God knows all. It gives me a heart of compassion and I would go into prayer for people. We as believers must judge through the eyes of God. We should ask ourselves are we judging someone because there is something in us that is similar.
God sees the whole picture through a heart of love and righteousness. .1 Samuel 16:7 New Living Translation:The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
1 Corinthians 4:4-5 Living Translation: 4 My conscience is clear, but even that isn’t final proof. It is the Lord himself who must examine me and decide.5 So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether someone is a good servant or not. When the Lord comes, he will turn on the light so that everyone can see exactly what each one of us is really like, deep down in our hearts. Then everyone will know why we have been doing the Lord’s work. At that time God will give to each one whatever praise is coming to him.
Do a self examination daily. Psalm 139:23-24 King James: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 Living Translation: 9 The heart is the most deceitful thing there is and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is! 10 Only the Lord knows! He searches all hearts and examines deepest motives so he can give to each person his right reward, according to his deeds—how he has lived.
We must add action to what we believe in order to see transformation.. James 1:21-25 Living Translation:21 So get rid of all that is wrong in your life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts.22 And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. 23 For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; 24 as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. 25 But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.
The heart of God is through the eyes of love. Read 1 Corinthian 13 daily and examine yourself. Love is a faith walk, not just words. To know God, is to know love. God will correct us because he wants the best for us out of love. There is a gospel song “Work On Me” that came to me. The lyrics that stuck out to me were : Lord work on my heart so I can love everybody. Lord work on my life, so I’ll be pleasing to Your sight. You know what’s up, so fix me up. Please Lord, just work on me You know my faults, my secret thoughts . Please Lord, just work on me.
As believers we are stewards over our heart. When the pressure and temptations come, the word will rise up within us. Proverbs 4:23 NIV Version: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Psalm 119:11 Amplified Version: Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
Matthew 5:8 Amplified Version: 8 “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.
We can be praising God one moment and arguing the next. A minister at my church said true worship is obedience to God. Let us be doers of the word. When we fall, ask for God’s help and do not live under condemnation. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. The word of God and the Holy spirit uproots everything that is not like God.
You may look the part, but how is your heart?
Prayer: Lord, thank for your word. Search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me, God lead me to the way of everlasting. God, the areas where my heart has hardened soften it. God purify my heart through your word and the Holy Spirit so I can see things through your eyes. I am a doer of the word and not a hearer only. God I want the Garden of Eden inside me. I walk in love and examine myself daily. Thank you for perfecting me in Jesus name! Amen!