From Head to Heart

Happy Sunday readers! It's Bailee on the blog today to talk about a passage of Scripture I came upon this week. In typing this, I was tempted to say I “stumbled” upon it, but that would make it sound like it happened by coincidence, and I just don’t think that’s the case.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

I was actually looking for verses about the commands of God. I had just read John 13:30, which commands us to love one another and was headed to read Matthew 5, 6, and 7, which talk about how these commands work out in daily living. However, I forgot to flip to Matthew and found myself reading John chapter 5 before realizing. I got all the way through this chapter when I noticed, but I decided to stay where I was because I found a patch of verses that really hit home for me.

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 5:39-40 (NIV)

Ouch, this one cut deep.

As I read these verses, I could see that it wasn’t the first time I had come across these, as shown by the page filled with green highlighter. I definitely don’t remember reading them though.

These verses intrigued me, so I took out my Moody Bible Commentary to read what it had to say about it.

The Pharisees held that those ignorant of the law were accursed. So they searched the Scriptures because they thought that in the mere knowledge of Scripture they had eternal life. Blinded by their self righteousness, they missed the true Messiah about whom the Scriptures prophesied. This failure meant they were unwilling to come to Christ for eternal life, not merely that they were ignorant of the truth (Rydelnik et al., 2014).

If you don’t know what a Pharisee is, allow me to clarify. Gotquestions.com describes them this way- “Their teachings are merely human rules” (Mark 7:7) & they “neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:3)” (Who were the Pharisees? 2018).

Further,

“The apostle Paul was trained as a Pharisee, and his credentials in that group were sterling (Acts 26:5). Paul called himself “a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (Philippians 3:5–6). But Paul found that his performance of the Law could not produce true righteousness. After he placed his trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross, he desired to “be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (verse 9). No one, not even the strictest Pharisee, is justified by keeping the Law (Galatians 3:11)” (Who were the Pharisees? 2018).

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During times when I am struggling or when my attitude is not where it should be, the truth is that the majority of time I know what it is I am supposed to do (i.e. adopt an eternal perspective, take my thoughts captive, cast my cares, etc.), I am just choosing not to do it. I know the Scriptures that give me these instructions, and some are even highlighted in my Bible.

But simply knowing them is not enough. I must ACTUALLY come to the Father, accept His peace, and follow His instructions to experience Him in my life.

I can read the Bible all I want, but if faith isn't evident in the way I live, I am not living out the life God wants me to.

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I have oftentimes found myself wondering what God wants from me.

I initially felt as though this was an isolating question. But some verses in Micah soon brought me comfort. I found that this question is actually something that has been asked since the beginning of time.

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly, with your God.

Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

Have you ever come to God as if you were entering a job interview?

Lord, I have attended x amount of church services, read through x books of the Bible, prayed every morning and night, gave x amount of offering every Sunday. And I will do whatever it is you ask of me. I will sacrifice, toil, or anything else.

I know I have.

What would it take to cover my sin? What would it take for God to be finally pleased with me?

Micah 6 gives us the answer.

“The answer to Israel’s sin problem was not more numerous or more painful sacrifices. The answer was something much deeper than any religious observance: they needed a change of heart. Without the heart, Israel’s conformity to the Law was nothing more than hypocrisy….” (What does it mean to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8)? 2012).

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Growing up, it was hard for me to understand that perfection wasn’t the prerequisite to all success. I personally thought I had to do everything perfectly or I wouldn’t accomplish my goals OR even if I did accomplish them, I certainly didn’t deserve it.

Flashback to junior high. I was in the thick of my quest to be “healthy”.... a quest that would soon lead to a stress fracture due to underfueling and overexercising in my right foot.

Anyways, of course, health meant that I had to have a salad every single day for lunch. This particular week I was at cheer camp, and (to my dismay) the eating arrangements were subpar to my standards at the time. One day I had no choice but to eat pizza for lunch.

I probably would have completely lost it, but I had to keep it somewhat together because All-American cheer tryouts were just after lunch.

I remember thinking that there was no way I was going to earn the title- for I had failed. I didn’t eat perfectly; therefore, I wouldn’t perform perfectly.

ED RED FLAG 🚩🚩🚩

Sure, the girls on my team might have eaten the exact same thing as me and would be fine, but unfortunately I was different. (no).

Still, I gave it my best. And I actually wound up making All-American cheerleader! I couldn’t believe it.

This is one of the first memories I have of learning that adhering to my own “rules” doesn’t necessarily lead to prosperity.

Sure, physical fitness and a healthy diet can help a cheerleader be their best, but a positive attitude and genuine school spirit is arguably even more important & perhaps can carry them even further.

The same is true in our faith. Reading the Bible, prayer, and attending church can certainly benefit a believer, but “[r]eligious rites, no matter how extravagant, can never compensate for a lack of love (1 Corinthians 13:3). External compliance to rules is not as valuable in God’s eyes as a humble heart that simply does what is right” (What does it mean to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8)? 2012).

Spiritual maturity involves allowing biblical knowledge to transcend the head and pierce the heart.

This week, remember that perfection is not what God wants from you. Don't let your head override your heart.

Love,

Bailee <3

References

Rydelnik et al. (2014). The moody bible commentary. Moody Publishers.

GotQuestions.org. (2012, October 16). What does it mean to do justly, love mercy, and walk aaaaahumbly (Micah 6:8)?. GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/do-justly-love-aaaaamercy-walk-humbly.html

GotQuestions.org. (2012, October 16). What does it mean to do justly, love mercy, and walk aaaaahumbly (Micah 6:8)?. GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/do-justly-love-aaaaamercy-walk-humbly.html