March 25, 2018 - - Psalm 119:25,32 No point shouting for action in a cemetery.
/My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart.
Psalm 119:25,32 ESV
Our human nature always clings to death and dust. It is the effect of sin. Our Canadian culture has a Prime Minister who celebrates death--exporting abortion funding to other countries; encouraging the killing of the elderly and calling it "dignified death". Christianity is the religion which our culture seems to be allowed to 'hate on'.
People, do not be fooled. It is not just our Prime Minister. It is easy to point fingers here and there and rant and rave. The fact of the matter is this: without Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives all of us would cling to the dust and death. The stranglehold of sin will drive us to our own destruction.
The psalmist recognizes this and urgently prays: 'enlarge my heart.' This means the following--Enlarge my heart
~by giving me a heart that is brought to life in Jesus Christ
~by increasing my capacity to love You, O God
~by increasing the presence of the Spirit so I will hate sin
~by increasing my love for others so I will pray for them and
speak to them of the life that is found in Jesus alone
~by moving me to do and to act according to the greater life and
love You have put into my heart
Many secular humanists are calling on people to love one another, to put away violence and hate. They might as well be shouting in a cemetery. Just as the dead in the cemetery can't do anything to help themselves, so those who are dead in their sins cannot act or help themselves. Only Jesus Christ can bring dead sinners to live by His Spirit. The Spirit breathes life, the Spirit pours out forgiveness given us in Jesus Christ and then enlarges our heart so that it is a compassionate heart--echoing the compassion and mercy and love of our Father in heaven.
Get to church today. Hear the message of life. Ask God to enlarge your heart. Be prepared for the adventure that will follow!
Spirit of God, thank You for the life You have given believers in Jesus Christ. Thank You that our sins are forgiven and our whole way of seeing the world is transformed. Enlarge our hearts. Give us an ever greater capacity to love You, serve You and bless the people You have put into our lives. Spirit of God stir in the hearts of those who do not yet know You the desire to get to church, to explore Who Jesus Is--especially in view of the fact that Easter Sunday--the Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead--is almost here. Let His life bring life to many. Let our life as Christians be a powerful incentive drawing others to join us in worship at church. Great are You Lord and worthy of glory; great are You Lord and worthy of praise! Amen.
