December 8th, 20025

The Lord starts with imperfect people and ends with imperfect people. The Lord looks at our heart, not our yamaka, prayer shawls and rosaries.

“11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? says the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this at your hand, to tread My courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them.” Isaiah 1:11-14

The eyes of the Lord search the earth to and fro for those whose heart is perfect toward Him to show Himself strong on their behalf (2 Chron. 16:9). He grows weary of the vain oblations from those who draw near to Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.

“8 This people draw nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.

9 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9.

It is all vain philosophies from the minds of men being taught as biblical doctrine from behind many a pulpit…NOT ALL but many. I thank the Lord for the preachers and teachers who stand up boldly to declare the rightly divided and full counsel of the Word of God but sadly they are far and few between. Quite frankly, it is after Salvation that many eager and zealous Believers are led astray with these vain philosophies. They leave their First Love, Jesus Christ, and seek to learn more about religious rites than the Lord Himself. I’m speaking to my pentecostal friends too. I remember a time when entire Sunday school classes were taught on harbingers, shemitahs and blood moons.

Jesus stands waiting to meet us when we simply turn our hearts back to Him. We’re not perfect but the Lord sees a humble heart before Him and will use that person for His glory if we will simply deny ourselves and follow Him. He will show up on time, in time, every time. When we don’t know the direction, be still. When the Lord opens a door, walk through it. Trusting in the Lord requires simple faith in the Cross of Christ to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. It is then that He is glorified…not in the religious rituals.

-Donna Clark Warren