“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” My ideal day is to have a joyful and grateful heart that is so contagious that I spread joy to everyone I meet. I have trained my heart to be like that through the life-long process of spiritual awakening.
People need genuine joy. Here’s how to find it.
The Bible clearly demonstrates this: Spiritual awakening can’t be produced by laws or formalized religion being imposed on people. It requires a humble heart, gut-wrenching repentance, and full surrender to the leading of God the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 29:13) When will we humans ever lean that?
God called Israel to be a godly nation, but when you read their story in the Bible, they never truly lived up God’s calling. They never consistently obeyed God’s laws. Even their best heroes and their “good” kings sinned against God.
The Old Testament prophets boldly criticized and rebuked both Israel and Judah in the name of God. They continually challenged them to go beyond the hypocrisy of outward appearance and religious formalism and to diligently purse true righteousness that comes from a heart fully surrendered to and obedient to God. Then when Christ came to show them His way, the most religious among them rose up against Him and convinced a mob to demand that the Roman governor crucify Him.
Since Christ came, many nations have called themselves Christian, but all those nations have fallen far short of cultivating truly Christ-like culture and community. They have promoted formal religion, imposed it on their people, and produced the pride of self-righteousness, but they haven’t changed people’s hearts in the way that produces widespread moral purity, genuine holiness, and Christ-like love that overflows with humility. When will we ever learn?
Laws can never create a godly culture. God’s righteousness begins to manifest itself when individuals sincerely and consistently open up to, align their free will with, and obey God the Holy Spirit. The world doesn’t need more legalism. It needs genuinely heart-transforming, spiritual awakening. Nothing less will do!
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Fill Your Mind and Your Heart With Hope 