Heart Check Part 6 – I did this because you did that!

God has a great sense of humor...we think, as parents, we are the ones raising our children. Are we? We say to ourselves, “They are learning and growing from us!” The older I have become, the more I have asked myself “who is raising whom?” Who is learning "patience?" - my child, who decides I did not use enough soap to make bubbles for their bath, or me when I find a brand-new bottle of bubble bath, empty, floating in a mountain of bubbles? Who is learning "self-control?" - my child, who wears my expensive shoes to play outside, or me when I find that my child left them outside where the dogs are and the rain is? Who is learning "longsuffering?" My child, who cannot wake me up in the morning no matter how hard he tries, or me when I finally am awakened by my child jumping up & down on my stomach? And who is learning to be humble? My child, who is singing in front of the entire community or me as I watch my child decide now is the time to scratch that spot or clean out his nose or adjust her underwear?

That's the way it is with a lot of life lessons, isn't it? You think they are for someone else Then, you realize that they are for you in reality! As we consider how individual's hearts reacted to Christ, let's not miss the lesson for our hearts! As we consider how individual's hearts reacted to Christ, let's not miss the lesson for our hearts!  In Review

The Biased Heart…intends!

    The Biased Heart does not care about right or wrong, just a

    personal agenda! 

    The Biased Heart sets out to prove what it already believes.

    The Biased Heart sidesteps truth and looks for ways to attack.

    The Biased Heart will try and create proof.

   The Biased Heart has an unwillingness to accept Truth

The Pressured Heart Reacts

    The Pressured Heart Reacts based on Reputation

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. He had a warning from the Lord delivered to him by his wife and in his heart he sensed it. Yet, pressure led him to a disastrous decision! 

Second, his heart reacted based on Rationalization

Luke 23:13–16 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.” 

Matthew 27:24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

No matter how much we may try to move the responsibility of a decision or action to someone else, if God has placed us as the ones to make that decision or take that action, we cannot escape that reality. I know for myself I can rationalize quite easily because it is convenient, simpler, and at first “feels” okay. The problem is the Holy Spirit will not allow that, and in the long run, I have had to face God and sometimes others for my unwillingness to face the truth. However, when I have refused to rationalize, God has been rich in mercy and grace, knowing I am only a man of flesh. He has supplied strength to stand firm, and I have reaped rewards and growth due to my faith.

The So What: Do you avoid responsibility easily? Are you gripped by fear to make a mistake? What is the worst that can happen in most cases if you are wrong? What will happen if you take the risk to move in faith? Are you willing to exchange spiritual growth for emotional peace? How long do emotions last?