Your Heart's Desire

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Here, as we open up the great 10th chapter of the Book of Romans, we are allowed to take a peak into the heart and desire of Paul. This was not the first time he expressed his desire to see those of his own country turn to Christ for salvation. He opened the previous chapter by saying:

Romans 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, (2) That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. (3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

What, if we could take a peak into your heart, would we find to be your desire? Christianity suffers today from the selfish attitude that permeates it. We are so busy trying to amass more and more for ourselves that we have no desire to change the eternal destination of those around us - even our own family. God grant us a heart and a desire like Paul's for the lost around us, especially those we come in contact with every day.

Mercy and Knowledge

Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Hosea was probably one of the most fascinating prophets of the Old Testament. It has been said that no other Old Testament book (in relation to the book's size) is quoted more in the New Testament than Hosea is.

Here in this verse, which is part of Jehovah's response to the remnant of Israel in the last days, the Lord makes an interesting, and maybe somewhat perplexing statement in relation to worship. Is this God's way of saying that He does not care what we do and is not interested in sacrifice and worship?

Well, as Jesus quotes this verse in Matt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, we recognize that He is speaking to the Pharisees. Even thought they claimed great spiritual insight and were teachers of the laws and prophets, they had failed to learn the fundamental truth of the prophet's statement. The Pharisees had never learned the meaning of this passage, which teaches that kind hearts and helpful deeds are more pleasing to God than outward ceremonial.

Sacrifice is right, but mercy is first in importance.

Thy Great Mercies

Thy Great Mercies

Daniel 9:18 - O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

Here we come to a very interesting, and important aspect of prayer - why God will answer. As Daniel is in prayer and confession, he pleads for God to answer his prayer, not based on his own righteousness, but he pleads for the mercy of God. I am afraid today that many Christians make their requests before God and plead their good works for the reason why God should answer. The merits for answered prayer are not our righteousness, but the mercy and grace of God. God answers prayer according to His mercy.

The Blog is Starting Back Up Soon...

...will be re-vamping the blog today and debuting it with a new direction with more frequent blogs. Stay tuned, it will be big...