An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Life Is Not a Stage

(Proverbs 21:27 KJV)  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

One of the hard realities for cultural Christians to accept is that living a moral and upright life in public does not by itself make you pleasing to God.  Here we have an example of this misunderstanding.  It would seem that it is possible for a “wicked” (7563) person to do something that would be classified as a “sacrifice” (2077) and do it with the right intention.  This could be anything from mowing their lawn to risking their life.  They can do it for the best of intentions.  It is still labeled an “abomination” (8441).  Why?

It is an abomination because it is done as a substitute for being submissive to the will of God.  It is unacceptable because it tries to substitute good works for a right heart.  It takes a requirement and perverts it by giving it priority over an even greater requirement.  It is not enough to do good things, make sacrifices.  They are required but they are only acceptable from a regenerate heart.

So?  God is not interested in plays and novels.  He is interested in real lives.  He demands that we get our hearts right with Him.  Until that happens you are on a stage with toy swords and borrowed words. 

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