June 12
1 Kings 9:1-10:29 | PS 130:1-8 | Prov 17:2-3 | Acts 8:14-40
Charles Spurgeon said, “If any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him, for you are worse than he thinks you to be”. Understanding the truth of this we read a portion of Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:38, “whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:”. Solomon goes on in 8:46, “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin),…”. We so often deem ourselves better than we should. Our hearts can be a very ugly place. What is the “plague” of your heart? The only reason we can walk outside publicly is that no one else can see what is inside our hearts, only God. This is why without the Word of God there is no shame. But with it, if filled with the Holy Spirit, there is conviction, not condemnation, and freedom, despite the wretches we truly are.
The religious leaders were filled to the brim with evil concerning the true things of God. But this is not what they thought of themselves, and this is not how they were perceived by the community at large. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit said in Acts 7:51-54, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” They didn’t like their hearts being exposed like that and responded in anger and violence. A little later, Peter, being led by the Holy Spirit exposes the heart of Simon, who was looked up to and respected by the community at Samaria in Acts 8:21-23, “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
So many people, in total ignorance, make the statement exalting themselves, saying, “God knows my heart”. We read in Jeremiah 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,…”. We need to approach ourselves and God sober-minded. We are just not that good. We might be able to fool others, but hopefully we know the reality of our own heart. May we all, rather than lifting our heads up in pride, drop them and profusely thank God for His endless mercy, grace, and patience for the likes of us. Thank you Jesus, for paying for every single sin that has and does reside within me.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: