A Heart act or a Religious act?

Psalm 50:1-6

“The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.  Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.  He calls to the heavens above and to the earth that he may judge his people: “Gather to me, my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”  The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah”

The thing all of us earth critters seem to have in common is we stay busy; I did not say we are productive but active.  One lady started a business called “White Spaces” it is all about looking for enjoyment and taking time to reflect in your busy schedule.  Often a pastor or teacher will give you a plan for taking a few minutes before the beginning of your day to read a few verses in the Bible.  But, is that a heart act or a religious act?  For years I would read a Proverbs and a Psalm each morning before starting my day, that is unless I had to grab an early plane or be at a customer’s office or when meeting before work with other men to have prayer and Bible Study.  I believe the Holy Spirit has pointed out to me it was a religious act on my part and not a desire to answer the summons of “The Mighty One, God the Lord.”

Take a breath, and set your mind on this, our Big God is calling all the people of the earth each day to have fellowship with Him.  Now it matters not who you are; God is obvious in His word that He has given us the power to set our minds, you will find that in Colossians 3:2.  Why do we not do so, because of the tyranny of the urgent, Charles E. Hummel has given some great information on this in a small little book with that title?

Now let us explore Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.”  Why do we not do so, after asking myself that for many years, I came up with the answer, we are ignorant of what God calls success.  From a child, we were told that success would come if we applied ourselves, worked hard, and got an excellent education. That’s all good, but is it the key to what God has planned for your life?  

I often read Os Hillman's devotion, and the other day he touched on the subject of success, let me share.  “The definition of success. Success is fulfilling the complete purpose for which God made you. It has nothing to do with wealth, accomplishments, stature in life or standard of living. It has to do with living a life of obedience to the Father. And when we live a life of obedience to the Father, we will fulfill the purposes that God had in mind when he made you and me. That is really the definition of success. Success is fulfilling the complete purpose for which God made you. It has nothing to do with wealth, accomplishments, stature in life or standard of living. It has to do with living a life of obedience to the Father. And when we live a life of obedience to the Father, we will fulfill the purposes that God had in mind when he made you and me.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice