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Emotional Involvement with God - February 04, 2007
Ever have difficulty getting acquainted with certain folks? Somehow they seem cold to you. When you try to open up to them, they do not open up to you. A relationship therefore never develops. Paul experienced the same thing with a church. "O Corinthians, our heart is open wide. You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained by your own affections" (2 Corinthians 6:11-12). Paul was emotionally involved with this church. He had gone through many trials so they would hear the gospel. The Corinthians, however, were cool toward Paul. They were holding their emotions in check.
God often gets the same cool reception from each of us. Moses said of God's people, "The Lord set His affection to love them" (Deuteronomy 10:15). The people did not reciprocate. They refused to become emotionally involved with God. As a result, Moses admonished the people, "Circumcise then your heart, and stiffen your neck no more" (Deuteronomy 10:16).
These people had a heart problem. We often have the very same heart problem today. We get emotionally involved with basketball, baseball, and football. Will we get emotionally involved with God? Not on a bet. A cold shoulder irritates us. It saddens God. He says, "An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand" (Isaiah 1:3).
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]; or visit: Word for the Week
Ever have difficulty getting acquainted with certain folks? Somehow they seem cold to you. When you try to open up to them, they do not open up to you. A relationship therefore never develops. Paul experienced the same thing with a church. "O Corinthians, our heart is open wide. You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained by your own affections" (2 Corinthians 6:11-12). Paul was emotionally involved with this church. He had gone through many trials so they would hear the gospel. The Corinthians, however, were cool toward Paul. They were holding their emotions in check.
God often gets the same cool reception from each of us. Moses said of God's people, "The Lord set His affection to love them" (Deuteronomy 10:15). The people did not reciprocate. They refused to become emotionally involved with God. As a result, Moses admonished the people, "Circumcise then your heart, and stiffen your neck no more" (Deuteronomy 10:16).
These people had a heart problem. We often have the very same heart problem today. We get emotionally involved with basketball, baseball, and football. Will we get emotionally involved with God? Not on a bet. A cold shoulder irritates us. It saddens God. He says, "An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand" (Isaiah 1:3).
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]; or visit: Word for the Week
