Lenten Devotion – April 8, 2019
“Such as everyone is inwardly, so he judgeth outwardly.”
Thomas a Kempis
“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
Jesus (Matthew 15:17-18)
God seems to think this “heart” thing is important. From the ancient writings to the letters for the new church, the heart – and specifically, our need for a new one – is a common theme. And like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, we are constantly trying to figure out a way to be godly without the work within us of change to our hearts.
Physical heart surgery is invasive and scary (and risky!). In truth, spiritual heart surgery is the same. When I have open heart surgery, I am not in charge. I give my life into the hands of the surgeon. He will do what he feels needs to be done, and my opinion means little to nothing. When I allow God to “Create in me a clean heart”, as the psalmist prays, I am not in charge. I give my life into the hands of God. He will do what He feels needs to be done. If I truly want a new heart, my opinion means little. However, a major difference between the physical surgery and spiritual creation is my ability to stop the process and go back to the way things were.
Somehow, we believe that our outward actions – our outward judgments – define our spirituality. If I am against those people, if I condemn those policies, if I take a stand against what they are doing, I am showing the world that I am godly, I am living a life that pleases God. Yet most often God calls us to be self-reflective, to allow Him to change OUR hearts, to let Him purify our desires. When we let God operate in us this way, we are changed, and our actions become of reflection of that change.
One other thought as I reflect on this statement by Thomas a Kempis: I often judge in others most harshly those things I see in them that are a reflection of the attitudes in my heart I am trying to hide. When I find myself becoming angry with another person or group of people, often I need to examine what I see in them that reminds me of my own need for cleansing.
Lord, to allow you to create within me a clean heart requires that I give up control. Sometimes this is incredibly hard for me to do. Would you put within me the burning desire to be made new, so that any desire I might carry to remain in charge would be swept away. May the newness of my heart be reflected in my actions and my judgments.