Far Away Hearts

March 3

Leviticus 21-22

Psalm 29:7-11

Proverbs 6:34-35

Mark 7:1-16

Far Away Hearts

“He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” Mark 7:6-7 NIV

I became a Christian as a little girl. I do not remember a time when I was not in church at least once, if not several times, a week. At various times in my walk with the Lord, I have realized that I had let church activity and service temporarily take the place of a personal, intimate relationship with my Savior. I believe that this is one of Satan’s most devious schemes. He gets us so busy doing good things that we neglect doing the best thing, which is spending time with Jesus. During those times I honor Him with my lips, but my heart is far away. I am following the rules and usually making sure others follow them as well, but my heart is not sensitive to His leading. I am not listening for His voice prompting me to give words of encouragement to my weary friend or tell my lost neighbor about His love and grace. I am not getting much needed strength and nourishment from time in His Word, and I am not experiencing victory in overcoming temptation. My heart is far away.

In those times I often have to ask Him to give me a burning desire for Him; not for the things He can do for me, but for intimacy with Him. I believe that He honors my desire to desire Him even if my effort is weak, and He makes me aware of the void that can only be filled by His presence. My prayer is that I will be like David in Psalm 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (NIV)