How I live affects how I pray and the results of my prayers. That statement will probably get some pushback from some of my readers because we are so focused on the grace of God and a walk of faith that we get the idea that how I live doesn’t affect my relationship with God. Sorry, but that paradigm is incorrect.
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God desires that we have intimate knowledge of him and a faithful love toward him and others rather than religious activity on our part. Twice in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus quotes this passage from Hosea 6:6. Jesus’ command to the Pharisees was, “Go and learn what this means,” and then quotes Hosea 6:6a, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13 and 12:7). So, it makes sense to me that we should take the hint and make sure we also know what this means since Jesus was obviously not happy that these Pharisees did not comprehend its meaning.
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The great news is that if you walk along the path of life with the Lord and you trip and fall, you won’t do a faceplant. Why not? Because the Lord, your Father, is holding your hand as you walk, and when you trip, he’s got you. You might skin a knee a little and be embarrassed, but no faceplant. The Psalmist says it this way, “he shall not be cast headlong.” In our vernacular, it is better understood as not doing a faceplant.
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Is the water boiling yet? Did the frog even ask the question? It is time we begin asking this question.
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Isaiah prophesied, “And they will all be taught by God.” Jesus picks up on this truth to instruct his disciples on what must occur for someone to come to Jesus. Jesus taught them that they could not do what was necessary to bring anyone to Jesus. It applies to us as well. We cannot do anything to make someone believe the gospel.
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The Apostle Paul viewed controversy or speculation as very dangerous and not to be tolerated. There is a not-so-small contingent of the American church that is caught up in just this problem and has been for the past few years. All of what I am here concerned about is political in nature.
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