Dan Gould

Tag: Give us Clean Hands by Chris Tomlin

  • Bible Challenge – 1 Timothy 1

    “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” v. 5 (NLT)

    Love is the central word in what Jesus says is the greatest commandment, “To love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and strength.” He goes on to say that the second greatest command is, “To love our neighbor as ourselves!” However, somewhere in the mix we have lost sight of this very important statement by Jesus.  Let’s be honest, loving others takes time, work and sometimes resources.  It’s much easier to love ourselves that to love others.  Loving God has some of the same characteristics as well.  It requires commitment, self-discipline, and a giving heart. Let’s be honest, love requires much from us!

    But, when we experience God’s love, it changes the way we love.  When we understand the serious nature and high cost of sin, it causes us to see the Cross in a whole new light.  The cross is a picture of both God’s wrath and God’s Love.  Because God punishes sin, the Cross was the extreme punishment for sin. But, because God loves us, the Cross was the extreme expression of God’s love!  The Cross stands between God’s wrath and God’s love! It reveals both a God that seeks Justice and God provides Love.

    Through the cross we can be filled with the love of God and therefore love others.  The level at which we love, can be measured by the purity of our heart, clearness of our conscience, and the depth of our genuine faith. This is the essence of a true Christ Follower! It requires much of us, but produces so much more in us!

    Today, will your Love for God and others be seen by your purity, clear conscience, and genuine faith?

  • Bible Challenge – Hebrews 3

    “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.  Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” v.12-14 (NLT)

    The condition of your heart is important, not just in a physical sense but in a spiritual and eternal sense.  I have been thinking about this statement and even see this fleshed out in my own kids lives – What you hear, you believe, and what you believe you become!  I think these words are so true, that is why this warning is something we need to hear and pay attention to so we don’t become a “remember when … ?” type of person.

    Here’s what I mean by that last statement, I have seen people get excited for God at a camp, a retreat, a church service, but something happens and they seem to have lost their excitement for God.  When I talk with them or see them I always want to ask, “Remember when …? What happened?”  I have asked some people this question and they have told me they didn’t know, it just happened.  Or they go on to list all the things that have caused them to loose their excitement, their dedication, and discipline to, and for, the things of God.  It always sadden me when this happens.  But I have to be honest, this is something, if I am not careful, WILL happen to me.  It is, something if you’re not careful, WILL happen to you.

    You see our hearts turn away from the Living God when we stubbornly refuse to believe him, refuse to listen to him, and refuse to surrender completely to him. (there’s a sermon right there) The scary result is this, if we continually refuse to believe, listen, and surrender, God will eventually leave us alone in our sin.  It’s a scary place when we are calloused to the things of God.  But how do we know if this has happened and is true in our own lives.  Great question, and here is my answer.  You have to ask yourself, “Are there things in my life now, that use to cause conviction but don’t anymore?”  This is a question you need to give a lot of thought to on a regular basis.  You have to wrestle with this question on your own, not in a legalistic way, but in an honest way.  That’s why we have to be careful.

    The good news is this, you can prevent this from happening in your life.  Here’s how,

    • Spend time with God on your own!
    • Be careful where you spend your time, what you hear and watch!
    • Connect with other Christians who are seeking the Lord! (there is a difference)
    • Talk about your faith and what God is teaching you with others!
    • Be aware of your temptations and the attractiveness, deceitfulness, and destruction that sin has and causes!
    • Encourage others! I call this words of life.

    It’s going to take work, bu I believe, if we will do these things, we begin to guard our hearts as it says to do in Proverbs 4:23

    “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

    Today, Be Careful, Guard your Heart, and stay Faithful … the little things matter!

    When you read Hebrews 3 what speaks to you?