In church, moments of truth happen fairly regularly. When I hear something that I really need to hear, it’s like I hear it in bold, large font, italicized letters. The Living Word indeed. For example: 

I was in church one Sunday, and wwaaayyy off plan. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what was making me so miserable. On cue, Pastor clued me in: 

“It’s not enough to change your actions. You need to change your heart.” 

 I could only manage an epithet that caused the very nice lady next to me to scoot over a seat of two, causing an even more tightly packed house. At least in that row. 

On another occasion. I was well and truly miserable (again).  Pastor advised me to immerse myself in God: reading The Word, faith-based music, movies on faith …. The problem? Too much of the world, not enough God (1 John 2, Romans 12, Revelations 3 and about a dozen other places).  

I was in a growth track class (sort of Sunday school for wayward adults), and the leader encouraged us to read the Bible daily. He claimed that it would “change your life”. People  use that trite phrase to describe food, television shows, and yoga class. But, in my case, it was a truth.  

Let’s face it…. many of us default to sin. Maybe not always in action, but, certainly in our hearts and minds. In the end, we can’t live in both worlds. You can’t crave worldly things and still be a child of God. Not that you can’t have these things. In fact, you might be blessed with them. But God knows our actions and our hearts (Revelations 2 & 3).  

As Jesus tells us in Matthew 15, our words and actions come from the heart. And these words and actions can consecrate or sever your relationship with our God. He knows what is in your heart. You might fool your friends, everyone at church, even your spouse, but you’re not going to fool God.