Kaine and I were having dinner with someone recently. As the waitress kept passing by, our friend kept commenting on how much he disliked this lady. After the comment, he’d always grin and say, “I don’t know why, I don’t know her but there’s just something about her I can’t stand”.

I asked him why he felt that way or what does he think might make him feel that way about someone he doesn’t know. We never could figure it out.

Now I admit the waitress was not the most professional waitress I’ve ever had at a restaurant but hey, great wait staff is getting harder to find – much like any other good help.

For a week or so now those comments have been weighing on my mind. I sometimes compare events like that with our entrance to Heaven. For instance, there is this couple I know and am good friends with. Even so, they are EXTREMELY legalistic and judgemental. You know the type of person I am talking about – their appointment on Earth is to point out even the slightest infraction on your part and to let you know what the bible says about it (which is often a twisted interpretation). Anyway, what if when we walk up to heaven’s gates Jesus is standing there and says to them, “your only assignment was to show mercy and grace to [your name here] but you just showed them criticism and condemnation”. How will we explain ourselves on that day?

Now I’m not trying to say that is what is going to happen but I like to think along those lines. Mostly because if Jesus were to ask me about how I treated someone, I want to have an answer.

How many times have you been in a group and someone else shows up to say hi and exchange pleasantries? when they leave someone in the group says “oooh, I just hate them” after just two seconds earlier giving them a hug, a handshake, and telling them they MUST DO LUNCH and catch up! What’s that all about?

Here’s my thought for this article;

We can put a dress on the pig but it is still a pig. Just because we put up a front to people and act like we love them does not change the fact that it is all just lip service. Maybe no one we do that to will ever ever know it but the ONLY one who matters already knows it.

Jesus knows us not by our deeds, but by the condition of our heart. What I mean is that no matter what we do or say, if the motives are not pure, it makes no difference.

If we go out and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the prisoners for selfish reasons or to show what we can do, the power in it is lost because we have claimed any glory and honor for ourselves.

If we treat people nice and show them love to their face and then secretly hate them in our heart, we have proved ourselves unworthy of trust.

If you feel you have your outward appearance all polished up and make a good showing, think about the only thing that matters, the condition of your heart. That is the part Jesus sees and the part he loves or despises.

Ask God to reveal to you the thigs he does not like about your heart and to help you purge those parts from you. Ask him to place in you the love he feels for people. When you see someone you can’t stand, ask God to show you how much he loves them and to give you that love for them too.

God will change your heart if you truly want him to. Sometimes we hang on to things from the past or even superficial things that we hold against others. We have to let it go. If we can truly understand how much God loves all people, we can become more like him and find it within ourselves to allow our heart to be healed.

Blessings & Peace.

John

Posted under FROM THE HEART