Father God, Lord Jesus, hallowed is your holy name. Thank you for mercy and grace. Lord Jesus, today, we ask that You sweep across this nation and create a clean heart and renewed spirit in everyone who calls You, Lord. I say a special prayer for those with a hardened heart: soften their hearts and give them a fresh anointing. We pray for those who have become callous and immoral. Lord, help us not to fear the future but to trust that you are in control. Lord, give me words pleasing to Your ear and food for Your people. In Jesus' Name, I say Amen.
Too many people like to test God, sometimes unknowingly but sometimes with full knowledge of their actions. We also have people on this journey who do not recognize God because of ignorance and callous hearts. "Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him” (Eph. 4:18, NLT). If a believer becomes alienated from God, it is easier to become hostile toward others and commit evil because they lose sight of their moral code, which is grounded in God’s Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I use these terms interchangeably because of some people's confusion concerning the law and grace, even though the Apostle Paul answered any question.
Now and then, we need a dose of truth to avoid vain endeavors and misspoken words. No matter where we are or what we have done, God understands past failures and desires to give us a new heart with a new spirit (Jer. 17:9); however, like Jesus, God expects us to repent and sin no more. Now, here is a dose of truth! When people continue to be disobedient, God can also darken their understanding. He did it before. It is recorded in the Book of Psalms that when Israel would not listen or obey Him, He gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their ideas, counsel, and plan (Psa. 81:11-12). We have free will, so if we are alienated from the Lord’s Way and truth, we choose this path freely. When we find ourselves on the wrong path, we must examine ourselves, turn back, and reconnect to the Lord’s Way and Truth.
Be careful not to exchange God's truth for a lie and worship idols rather than the creator (Rom. 1:25). There is too much information out there for anyone not to know that idols refer to other things besides the golden calf. This is what you must do, “Put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5, NKJV). The Bible defines idolatry as anything we choose before God, which could include spouses, children, football, or anything else. How often have you or someone you know put spouses or girlfriends before God? Some men would kill to be with or for a woman but will not sacrifice a little time to go to Sunday School or Bible Study.
I know you know God, so be careful not to become callous and futile. A hard heart manifests itself in callousness and all forms of sensuality, including fornication and evil desires. Nurture your ability to discern; you will recognize this attitude before it overtakes you. It is not always easy to identify it yourself, but you make it a point to call out others for the same behavior or something close. Paul describes people with these attitudes: “They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more” (Eph. 4:19, CSB). Callousness speaks to an insensitive attitude where one doubts the Lord’s Truth and becomes numb (desensitized) to sin. Have you become numb to fornication, adultery, covetousness, hatred, and other evil desires versus homosexuality? Too many are always ready to call out homosexuality but ignore other sins. I know, some say, “but homosexuality is described as an abomination.” Well, NEWSFLASH, so is lying. Scripture says: “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD” (Prov. 12:22, KJB).
There is a sense of apathy toward some sins, meaning that most sins do not matter to the world, and lying seems to be one of them. In the current culture, it seems to have become a national pastime. As a result of this attitude concerning lying, many have set aside restraints and do not exercise self-control over other sins, giving themselves permission to walk in the counsel of the ungodly and practice all manner of evil, from lying to stealing to orgies to murder to genocide.
To enter the Kingdom of God, one must put to death sexual immorality, lust, greed, idolatry, and evils like that that are a breeding ground for other sins. Because of these and other sins, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. No matter what the false teachers and cult leaders tell you, it is God’s will that we become and remain holy, standing firm in the faith and glorifying His name. If you know Him, then walk in the truth you heard! There is no greater joy than for God to see His Children walking in the truth (3 John 1:4). Let us live according to God’s Word, which means seeking to know and understand the Lord’s commands.
Examine yourself and be honest in your findings. Is your life and lifestyle different than the person you refer to as your ungodly neighbor? We see relationships with family members that are sometimes quarrelsome and downright hostile. This is not the attitude Christ Jesus portrayed in His relationships. We know what you tell and regard as trivial lies and the sensuality that you approve. This is not the mindset or behavior of Christ Jesus. “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles (1 Cor. 5:1, NIV). Have you lost all sense of shame and given yourself over to sensuality and practices that are not pleasing to God? Is this the truth you heard from the prophets, the Holy Spirit, your pastor, or other leaders in the church?
Observe your behaviors, and listen to Paul's words; he said, “But that is not the way you learned Christ” (Eph. 4:20, ESV). The phrase “learned Christ” refers to being a student and disciple of Christ, continuing to walk in Him, and living a life centered on the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, and old habits should be buried. Do not live like the unbelievers; instead, live like a believer, a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Clothe yourself in Christ.
We, Followers of Christ, must put forth the necessary effort and leave nothing for the desires of the flesh to captivate. We implore you to “clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires” (Rom. 13:14, NLT). Listen to the Word of God if you have an ear to hear. The Son of God lives; be rooted and built up in Him because “You certainly heard about him, and as his followers, you were taught the truth that is in Jesus” (Eph. 4:21, GNT). Following the Lord Jesus is not a one-time choice but a commitment to repent permanently. This is a lifetime commitment and a daily struggle, but we must be ready for a lifetime fight to stay holy in His sight. Remember, He sees all things everywhere at all times!
If the Spirit of Christ is in us, the power of Christ is available, so fight the fight of faith and become more like Christ. He paid our debt by taking up our infirmities and carrying our sorrows; He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed our iniquities (Isa. 53:4). The New Testament expects disciples to become like Christ. Be imitators of Christ, “for to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21, ESV). It is time to strip off your old self and put on Christ.
Prayer: Father God, Lord Jesus, please give us a fresh anointing so we do not lose our savor and become callous and foolhardy. Please help us tell the truth about all life matters, big and small. In Jesus’ name, Amen
