Weekly Devo "Hypocrisy of the Heart" - 3/4

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manger

 

Hypocrisy of the Heart

              Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8

If one is good, two is better, right? Well, that depends. When it comes to chocolate, yes, yes, of course! But being double-minded is another matter entirely. James tells us that double-minded people are unstable (James 1:8). They have divided loyalties that waver between two opinions.

On the showdown at Mt. Carmel between God and the false prophets of Baal, Elijah stood before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).

Same people, different time and place. When Joshua gave his farewell address at Shechem, he said to the people, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).  

Double-minded people try to serve two masters. They flip flop how they think about things based on their feelings, what they’re doing, and who they’re with at the time.  They’re like waves of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind (James 1:6).  

It’s hypocrisy of the heart to waver in our thought life. Choose where you will set your mind.  Will it be in accordance with the Spirit and what the Spirit desires or on the sinful nature and what it desires? (Romans 8:5)

Are we going to be single-minded and steadfast in thinking on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy? (Philippians 4:8) Or are we going to keep running back to thoughts that are hostile to God? (Romans 8:7)

In Psalm 119:113 we read, I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. The more we love God’s Word and saturate our minds with its truth, the more we’ll be aware of double-minded thinking that does not submit to God’s law.

Accept His invitation, double-minded women. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Purify your hearts and thoughts! (James 4:8). Be single-minded and fix your thoughts on Christ alone (Hebrews 3:1).

Think on it: Is there a showdown going on in your mind? Stop shifting like a wave, and stand firm on His Word!

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. It’s ok to stare.

Bob Goff