Larry Ray Hafley
David said, "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from
thy commandments" (Psa. 119:10).
Many religious folks talk about "heart-felt" faith and about seeking after
God "with all my heart," but "they do not understand either what they are saying
or the matters about which they confidently affirm" (1 Tim. 1:7). This is seen
in the case of those who speak derisively and disparagingly about "seeking to
find God between the pages of a book." When faced with the fact that their
doctrines and practices are human traditions, the inventions of men, they smugly
and confidently assert that their faith is "spiritual and deeply imbedded in my
heart, and not in the keeping of commandments." They assure us they have "more
confidence that Jesus is in my heart than you do that he is in your
commandments."
But note the Psalm above. Assuredly, one must seek God with his "whole
heart." Certainly, we must let Christ "dwell in (our) hearts by faith" (Eph
3:17). But how does "faith" (through which Christ dwells in our hearts) come?
"Faith cometh by hearing," by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). So, one must
seek God and faith in him "between the pages of a book," the Bible.
Further, after David spoke of seeking God with his whole heart, he said, "O
let me not wander from thy commandments." Let that sink in. The Spirit connects
whole hearted seeking and service to God with one's not wandering from the
commandments of the Lord.
Therefore, those who would divorce "whole hearted faith in God" from "keeping
commandments" are separating that which the Holy Spirit joined together, and we
would remind them that "what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
God joined whole hearted faith and trust in him with the keeping of his
commandments. Those who would sever them do so at their own peril (Matt.
7:21-27).
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