In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

“A good man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good and a evil man man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil…for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” Luke 6:45 (read 43-45 for the full flavor)

Ever notice how much time and energy we expend trying to defend our particular perspective? What if we put that energy, effort and enthusiasm into maintaining the right heart posture toward God, ourselves and others? What if we pondered more on the standard of the Word instead of focussing on our particular interpretation of it? I doubt we would waste time debating pagan  holidays and practices because we would realize God is more concern with the heart of man and woman. The things in and of themselves are not the problem. The posture of our hearts while doing or participating is the focus.  God isn’t concerned with our outer presentations of righteousness.  He is concerned with our inner motivation of living and loving.  Many of us got the look down pack we major on display and minor on disposition.  Impressing the world because we dare not participate in anything worldly or ungodly.  How then is it that we are living and loving on earth?  Come from among them and be ye seperate in mindset, mannerism and motive.  Live and love differently according to my standard is the mandate for every believer.

As We live and love on earth the objective is to teach and train ourselves to check our hearts in whatever we choose to  do, say and be. When we say or do this or that we should ask ourselves am I living or loving in darkness or light? Where’s my heart in all this?

If God looks on the heart why are we more concerned with our look of faith? The standard of holiness shines from the heart.  We live and love differently not because we look holy but because we keep our hearts right before God.  We choose to submit its posture to the way, work and Word of God. That’s the witness what ultimately wins the world.

In all of our debating of right and wrong of holidays (Halloween, Christmas and Easter to name a few) how are we monitoring if our heart is correctly postured before God?  I think that gets lost in the heat and hurry of arguing a particular point.  After weighing the pros and cons and making your choice Be sure the final decision supports your choosing to maintain a heart that reverences God in all you choose to do or not do. While laughing, living and loving do so as unto the Lord from the correct heart posture.

If we are honest many times we are guilty of looking the part of holiness when our hearts are so far from God holiday or not.  That my dear lady and sir is pagan practice. Everytime we esteem our way, WORKS and word above His we are masked in costume and bowing down to a false god of our choosing much worst than these days we choose to abhor on God’s behalf.  If God is God and He is…our doing or not doing takes away or adds nothing to Him…it benefits our quality of life and love.

Our making good choices in terms of how we live and love the life Jesus blood purchased brings Him glory and honor.  What we choose to do or not do communicates our thankfulness for His sacrifice .
So the fact that you or I don’t drink alcohol in access benefits our natural bodies. The absence of alcohol related  sickness, disease, altered states and consequence aids in our ability to live and love in God’s  likeness. As to our abstaining from the use of cigarettes, drugs and other harmful substances.  It does not prove or disapprove salvation in and of itself. Our relationship to and with God is proved by our hearts toward Him.  We choose not to break God’s heart or live and love haphazardly because we honor the gift of his heart and sacrifice for us.  That doesn’t make or deem us holy it shows we’re grateful. God gets the glory from our lives when we are 100% the person He created us to be. So our giving God our best effort and energy honors Him not others interpretation of our holiness.  In the same way, our style of dress, choice of liesure activities, rather we celebrate holidays, put up trees, wear customes, go to the movies, dance, listen to the various types of music, get tatoo’s or any other thing we choose to harp on or have an issue with doesn’t prove our love for God, ourselves or others.  These things become detrimental when our heart posture is wrong.  Then and only then are we guilty of pagan worship. 

Does God hate festivals, feasting and fun?  Does the life and love of faith loose its attraction because it highlights No you cannot live, love and laugh while you are on this earth? Or does the standard of a life and love of faith provide a means by which you and I can choose a brighter and better way? The best way to live and love is in the right heart posture towards God, yourself and others that’s the standard we should energetically defend, display and demonstrate.  That dear believer would deflate the sail of the enemy when treading the sea of discord and division over expended effort and energy on all things profitable but not necessarily expedient.

Prayer: Dearest Jesus you sacrificed your life that we may live and love in the abundance of your love towards us.  Help us to do so in the freedom of your mindset, mannerisms and motive for our being. Unite our hearts before you and allow us to produce from the good you deposited within. May we laugh, live and love everyday in the heart posture that pleases and honors you and encourage the world to do the same.  Everyday is your day.  May you get the glory and be magnified through our choice to Esteem you higher than concern, custom, culture and conflicts of man made celebrations. Thank you for helping us to live and love in your likeness realizing it’s really a matter of the heart~AntTBri