Audit Your Heart

Over the last several weeks weeks, we have examined at Living Faith what being saved by grace means and how we’re called to live as a new creation in Christ. The autumn season (and approaching holidays) certainly provide us with a strong sense of change occurring all around us, so perhaps it’s serendipitous to put on our metaphorical certified public accounting hats and “audit our hearts” as we look ahead to a new season both as a nation and as a community of believers. Here are a couple of questions I find valuable to ask myself every now and then:
 

• Is my rebirth in Christ evident in the way I live and speak? This can manifest in many ways, such as how we interact with each other, the thoughts we think, and especially what we share on social media. James highlights to us in chapter 3 of his letter in the New Testament the importance of taming the tongue and how such a seemingly small part of the body can have a disproportionally large scale impact, both for building up or for reaping destruction. New technology and means of expression only have increased the avenues available to us to do one of these two things. Which path are you choosing? The truth is that the world is watching us and how we use these avenues (both individually and as a church family) can very well be what ultimately leads or steers someone away from the faith. Let us live and speak with the intention and understanding that we are ambassadors for the Christian faith in a world that so desperately needs it.

• Am I treasuring worldly wins or eternal victory? We have a lot pulling us in multiple directions these days and a lot of our struggles tend to come down to wanting to either protect our pride or prove that we’re right in very secular matters. The Book of Matthew is my personal favorite of the four Gospels because of its inclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, which, time and again, proves to be a convicting yet encouraging check on my heart and attitude. Jesus instructs us during this sermon, starting in Matthew 6:19, to store up treasures in heaven rather than treasures on Earth. While you initially might think that Jesus is referring to your savings account, annuity, or Roth IRA (and that might certainly apply if it’s what you’re worshipping,) I have come to understand that worldly treasure takes on many other forms as well and very often includes intangible items that we prioritize or even worship over God, such as reputation, tearing people down, and victories in arguments. As we learn a few verses down in Matthew 6:21, however, “where your treasure is, there you heart will be also” and this is certainly not where we want our hearts to be. Let us question, therefore, whether or not these worldly treasures are truly important if it means conducting ourselves in a way opposite of how Christ calls us to.

 
We are living in a world that certainly operates contrary to how God designed it, but just as Jesus describes his disciples in John 17: 14-15., I pray that we all will, despite this, live our lives and demonstrate the love Christ taught us. It might just be the difference maker in both our own spiritual growth and the influence you may have on others.