Why did you do that? What were you thinking of? Haven’t I taught you not to do that? These are some questions kids often hear from their parents when they have done something they are not supposed to do. Equally in our relationship with God, can we imagine God asking us some of the same questions? As we continue in our series, “Things that make God angry” we must consider what God has taught us and how we can consistently demonstration His teachings in our lives.
As we study the letters of Paul to the Romans, believers have been justified by the righteousness of God through their relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. The clarion call for the Christian is to exemplify evidence of a relationship in everyday actions. Paul’s letter is a guide to everyday believers in Rome who have received the good news of Jesus Christ unto salvation. This letter seeks to move us from salvation to sanctification. As believers we realize we cannot be saved by right living; but, because we are saved we ought to live right. Sins and Gods response to the sin in our lives must be identified.
In Parts I & 2 of this letter, we have talked about God’s wrath being against all unrighteousness and all ungodliness when men suppress the truth of God in acts of unrighteousness. We looked at man’s life when he neglects to give thanks to Him or honor Him resulting in further sinful acts that also invoke the wrath of God.
In part 3, we see the focus on two areas:
a. The thoughts of man.
b. The heart of man.
A. The Thoughts of man – Paul warns the Romans that there is danger of the wrath of God when they become futile in their speculations. In Philippians 2:5, the word calls for us to let this mind be in us that is also in Christ Jesus. With salvation must also come a transformation of the mind of man. Paul describes the mindset of man as futile. Futile carries the meaning of vain and worthlessness. Futile speculations have no value to God or the man that is having the thought process. Romans 12:1-2 calls for us to be ye transformed by the renewing our mind.
One of the areas that man should be most concerned about is our thoughts verses the thoughts of God. Paul warns us that men become fools although we profess to be wise. In Isaiah, God told his people, “my ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts.” The wisdom of God maybe considered as the proper understanding and application of God’s Word.
We don’t have to have to speculate about what God has already declared, decreed, created, stated and brought to pass. The famous verses in Proverbs 3:5-7 says, “trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thine ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”
B. The heart of man - Man looks on the outside, God looks on the inside. In Deuteronomy 8:2, Moses wrote, “You shall remember all the ways which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” When our hearts are not right with God, it disappoints and angers Him. When we turn our love toward areas and things greater than God, it disappoints and angers Him. Jesus commands in Mark 12:30, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Our hearts need to belong to God. If there is anything or anyone that takes our hearts away from God, I pray that God would direct our love and affection in the appropriate direction, toward Him. The old hymn says, Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart. Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart. Lord, help us to examine our hearts.
As each one of us considers the things that anger God, I leave you with this prayer. God bless us as we strive to please you in all areas of our life. Make our thoughts and our heart’s desires pleasing unto you. In Jesus name. Amen!
