The chosen day of congregational worship is not what God will use to judge me but the condition of my heart. What I bring to God in terms of financial offering or good works that everyone sees is not as important to Him as the state or condition of my heart before him (Isa.1:10-17); I’m I obedient to His commands? Do I treat people as I would like to be treated?

If I engage in rituals which have pagan roots knowing full well this is the case then I am guilty of compromise, as the kings of Israel who knew they had the authority to remove the high places of idolatrous worship but did not while at the same time worshipping Yahweh, also as the person who knows it is called “stealing” when they engage in the act of taking pens or notebooks from their place of work even though they make excuses for doing so. John 8:32 states "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free". Complete freedom lies in honestly applying the truth that one knows so that one is set free. Likewise, we are told in scripture that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26). You can say you have faith in God, but do your fruits or actions confirm that you do or is it just lip service?

As the Pharisees in the time of Jesus, if we want to be baptised and have the genuine title of a people of God then we have to produce fruit that shows we have repented. John the Baptist said to the Pharisees as they watched him baptizing:

8Produce fruit worthy of repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:8-10 Berean Study Bible).

There is a saying that is expressed as follows "show me your friends and I will show you your character". By our fruit people will know whether we are children of God or not (Matt.7:16). Do people you allow among your close circle of friends have the same belief systems as you? By this I mean do they live to please God, men or self? However strong you think you are, know that you are capable of being influenced one way or another by people, society and events around you and even more so by those close to you and whatever society or events they form alliances with.

Brethren, my message today is this "Let us beware and be aware of God's key requirements and so guard our hearts "above all else, for it determines the course of your life.(Prov.4:23 NLT)””

See other post in this category (State of the Heart Snapshot): Poem: State of the Heart