The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
Isaiah 29:13-14 NIV
Hearts Far Away
Canada is an immense country. Being almost 10 million square kilometres in size, it is the second largest country in the world. The 8,890 kilometre border with the USA is the longest international border in the world. The longest distance from east to west is 5,514 kilometres from Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador, to the Yukon and Alaska boundary. The longest distance from north to south is 4,634 kilometres from Cape Columbia on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, to Middle Island in Lake Erie, Ontario.
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It is easy, as followers of Jesus, to go through the motions of living a life to honour Him. We can go to church, serve on committees, volunteer to help others, and live a moral life without having a heart relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what Jesus condemned the religious leaders of , calling them white-washed sepulchers. They looked great on the outside but were empty tombs on the inside. It can happen today as well. Listen to the warning that God gives to His people in Isaiah 29:13-14: “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.’” Our relationship with Jesus Christ is one of the heart. It isn’t enough to go through religious motions. We are called to love Him with heart, mind, soul and spirit. Come near to the Lord with your heart. He is waiting.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley