Tag: Remove

Remove the Distractions Preventing Your Heart from Proper Love of God

“16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.” – Deuteronomy 10:16 (ESV)

I spent some time working to reconcile the passage of study this morning. I was led to the passage through verse 12 that again reiterates the need to love and serve the LORD with all your heart and soul. But as is common with God and His plan for me, I was struck by other verses within the passage.

Verse 16 above is speaking of removing that which causes difficulty in getting to the right that is there. In the commentary of my ESV Bible it says, “Here, circumcision symbolizes removing the stubbornness that prevents the heart from properly loving God (cf Ex. 6:12, where ‘uncircumcised lips’ do not speak week; Jer. 6:10, where ‘uncircumcised ears’ do not hear clearly).” We have too much in our lives that get in the way of us just loving God.

I know that there are things that I struggle with daily that prevent me from devoting myself to God. One of the biggest is my cell phone. That thing is such a time suck and filled will useless and distracting items. There is the world wide web of searches. There is social media. There is the pictures that have been taken and the regret that comes with missing a photo. There is the endless apps to keep us from truly experiencing. I get caught in a moment of break from work each day, checking my phone for updates that I “need” to know.

Removing the distracting thing would help so much in my relationship with the LORD. Instead of the phone distraction, reading God’s Word. Instead of watching television, praying to the LORD. Instead of working in the garage, sitting and reflecting all that God has provided. The thing is to remove that which makes it more challenging and in a lot of cases impossible to properly love God with all my heart, soul, and mind.

What are the things in your life making it harder to love God? Are you telling yourself that you can manage them all just fine? What if you were to consciously remove the distracting stubborn things that are getting in the way of you properly loving God?

The LORD Will Take Away

As a follower of Christ I am comforted that I will have rewards in heaven. I know that the LORD will provide for my needs. My salvation has been granted thanks to my acceptance of it from the LORD as His gift. But, all that I have in this world is not guaranteed. That which I have been blessed with can and will be taken away if I am not faithful to the LORD and do all that He has commanded of me.

“11Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.’” – 1 Kings 11:11 (ESV)

As Solomon had not kept up with his work for the LORD, the LORD removed the blessings from him.

This lesson is for me even today. I have been blessed with where Lori and I live. We are in a community that is friendly, generous, and desired by those outside looking in. The LORD made it possible for us to have raised our boys in this community where they were somewhat shielded from a lot of the world and the hardship that is found in other areas of it. But, as was with Solomon, the LORD could take it away at any moment if/when we fall away from Him.

There is however something that I am able to count on with regard to the LORD, His provision. Yes, I have been blessed with where we live and the LORD can take that blessing away at any moment based on my lack of continued dedication to Him. But, I can find solace in the fact that even if those blessings are removed from me, He will still provide for my needs and honor His promises to me.

“12Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.” – 1 Kings 11:12-13 (ESV)

Solomon, who turned away from the LORD, was not cut off from God. His provision was not taken away. The LORD will do the same with me. God loves me, and my inheritance in His kingdom has been guaranteed, but blessings in this world are not, only provision. He will take away the excess that is not part of that guarantee. I am not entitled to the excess, and frankly, I am not entitled to anything, yet the LORD, through His grace, ensures that my needs will be met in this world.

It is up to me to remain faithful to the LORD. It is my choice to do so. That is the beauty of the LORD, He has given me way to free will. And with that free will there are consequences when the choices I make do not align with Him and His will. But even when I do not choose Him and His will, He remains faithful to provide for my needs and His promise of salvation.

What are your thoughts as to the things we receive from the LORD? Are you even aware that the LORD provides the blessings you have? What if you were to recognize that those blessings are just that and can be taken away by the LORD, but, He will still provide for your needs?