Do you have one of those people in your life that constantly remind you of the evilness of your heart?
A man we call “Yes Lord” is that for me. We’ve only run into him four or five times. The second time we saw him, he was mean enough to me to make me cry. In public. In front of 50 other people. Frank had to go threaten him.
We ran into Yes Lord again tonight, and the mental tape started playing immediately. I knew what was coming, so I pridefully thought I could handle it.
“Look at him and see Jesus.”
“God loves him, you should to.”
“Ok God, if he’ll just stop talking and show me ONE redeeming quality I will be able to love him.”
Without fail, he keeps talking. Without fail, I fail. I fail at keeping my heart pure. Tonight, during our bible study he happened to say something really profound. Right as I was thinking my most sinful thoughts.
“Christ knows what’s in your heart.”
Ouch. He sure does, and tonight it wasn’t pretty. Tonight it was filled with all that was bad. I was nearsighted and blind, forgetting that I’ve been cleansed from my past sins.
2 Peter 1:3-10
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
*Yes Lord got his nickname because the second someone starts to pray, he starts saying (you guessed it) “Yes Lord” repeatedly and loudly. Tonight, I learned his real name because our small group leaders took the time to engage him in conversation. It’s Darrie.
