Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Payback Time

It's funny how the term "payback" might give people the wrong impression. I wonder how many who read this today will think it pertains to some sort of retribution? It could serve as a litmus test to show how much carnal thinking has entered into the Church.

What it refers to is that we should demand that others open their hearts as wide to us as we do to them.

Sounds like a foreign concept doesn't it? God's ways are surely not our ways. However, God's way is the right way. The world (and even some of the Church) has gone the wrong way.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (AMP) - "11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians [we are hiding nothing, keeping nothing back], and our heart is expanded wide [for you]! 12 There is no lack of room for you in [our hearts], but you lack room in your own affections [for us]. 13 By way of return then, do this for me—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also [to us].

Paul wasn't asking here. He was demanding something he knew was full well due to him because it was the Jesus Way.

Paul wasn't saying this because he was feeling unloved or shortchanged. 

Carefully consider this now...Paul was saying this for our benefit. WE need to love back because it is good for us to do so. A lack of affection in the heart is a dangerous signal. A lack of affection, a lack of love, shows an incompleteness. It show immaturity in Christ. It shows that we are missing the mark. If we can't love the best of us, how in the world will we love the worst of the human race? 

You may be pondering this as you read. You may even be applying this to your own situation (I hope you are!). You may even recognize that you lack in this area (I suspect many will).

You may also be thinking, "Pastor...how can I change this poor attitude and lack of affection on my part?"

It's right there in the passage! Isn't God great? He challenges us with truth and then even provides the remedy! You don't need to run to the witch doctor for pills and analysis. You only need to do one simple task.

Open WIDE your heart! Emphasis on WIDE. That's the problem. Our hearts are too small. They need to be enlarged, they need to open wider toward those who need love.

Again, this is for us. We reap the benefit from hearts turned toward others. A wide open heart is a heart that propels us to action. When your heart is bursting for the needs of others, you will find a way to serve and meet those needs.

I can hardly imagine what a world teeming with this truth would look like.

I trust it would look something like heaven.

Thy Kingdom come on earth AS IT IS in heaven.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

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