Many before entering the Lord’s service, no doubt feel that once they have been baptized, become accustomed to attending worship periods regularly; and overcome some of their old habits, will pretty well “have it made” in serving the Lord. Doing these outward services, however, is the easy side of obeying Christ. The difficult side involves that which is written; it involves keeping the heart right.

 

It is easy to attend the worship periods, but it is difficult to worship, to rid the mind completely of worldly things, and to concentrate fully on the Lord. It is easy to sing, but it is difficult to meditate on the words, making the sentiments of the song one’s own sentiment. It is easy to bow the head, but it is difficult to pray. It is easy to eat bread and drink the fruit of the vine, but it is difficult to concentrate fully as one should on the suffering of Christ. Sitting through a worship period is not itself worship, for true worship must proceed from the heart. (Ephesians 5:19; John 4:24)

 

In moral realms, the difficult thing to do is to keep the heart pure. It is relatively easy to refrain from killing, stealing, or committing adultery. After all, one is hindered in such matters by the laws of the land, social pressures, forbidding circumstances, fear of being caught, etc. It is difficult, however to completely rid the mind of jealousy, selfishness, discontentment, lust, hatred, bitterness, a spirit of revenge, etc. Anyone who has ever been jealous of another knows the difficulty involved in cleansing the heart of this terrible sin. So it is with all the sins of the heart.

 

It is easy to develop a friendly way and gracious manner with others, but it is difficult to develop genuine love and concern for others within the heart. It is easy to give something to some charity drive, but it is difficult to develop real compassion for the poor. It is easy to say, “Forgive me, Lord” but it is difficult to repent.

 

The wise man said, “Keep the heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). This is an essential part of serving the Lord, and the most difficult part!

 

via Taking A Stand With Christ!

edited by Lowell Blasingame, Grenada MS.