In 1Kings, chapter 18, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that these people may know that You are the Lord God and that You have turned their hearts back to You!”

Matthew tells us what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. These are what defile a person. So what does it take to turn a heart from such things? 

 It takes God to change a heart.  Scripture tells us to draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. A call to repent. Idolatry, the problem with Israel then and with society today, is that we can be double-minded, especially in America. We choose God one day and something else another day. God should be what always satisfies us. Satisfaction and provisions from anything or anyone else is Idolatry. 

The Bible says king Ahab was eviler than all the kings put together. Their provision was not the true God, but what and who they thought.  Ahab and his wife Jezebel, along with the people truly thought things were just fine and that their way was better than God’s. Big mistake. 

Back then, the Lord God provided a prophet to speak His word to the leaders and the people. Today, we still need to hear from God, but God does it through His Word, Holy Scripture. Everything Elijah did was through God’s Word, not his own and made it known to all involved so their hearts may be where they should be. What is wrong with that?

That is the Love of God to you and me so that none may perish but have eternal life. That is grace, God’s provision to us. 

This month is the beginning of Lent. A time to examine one’s self, and turn one’s heart to the one who gave it. 

Love, Pastor Jeff