Hearts Far From God

“This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far away from Me.

But in vain do they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” (Matthew 15:8-9 NASB1995)

“Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” (Matthew 15:17-20 NASB1995)

Some people think that if they do certain “good things” that it alleviates them of any other responsibilities. They think if they follow certain religious practices that it covers them from all of their sins. For the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, they were all concerned over the fact that Jesus’ disciples did not wash their hands before they ate, but the Pharisees did not obey God’s moral laws. They were full of wicked deeds, greed, hypocrisy, and self-indulgence. 

Some people are very good at sounding religious or of appearing as though they are worshipers of God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – but it is in talk only. For their hearts are far from God. They may sound religious, and they may be very articulate in speech whenever they talk about God or the Scriptures or faith in Jesus Christ. But by their actions they deny the one they profess to worship, so their worship of God is in vain (useless, futile).

For God is not impressed by religious rituals which do nothing to change the human heart. He is not impressed by how many “church services” you attend, or by how many “worship songs” you sing or “prayers” you recite. He is not excited over what is external only but which does nothing to change the human heart and to bring the person to repentance and to walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands. Forms of worship mean nothing to him.

And this is not talking about perfection, for none of us will be absolutely perfect (complete) until Jesus takes us home to be with him and we no longer live in these flesh bodies. But it is talking about what we practice; how we live in purpose from day to day as a matter of life course. What occupies our hearts and minds and emotions? Is it serving the Lord with our lives? Or is it pleasing the flesh and doing things our own way, instead?

Is God truly the one ruling your hearts and minds and behaviors? Or is the flesh still the one in command? Are you good at looking righteous on the outside while you live like the devil whenever your flesh calls out to you? Do you make surface level attempts to improve how you are living but while you never truly deal with the intents of the heart? So, when the heart calls out, you answer by giving in to adulteries, evil thoughts, lies, and the like?

Many people professing faith in Jesus Christ continue to live in addictive sin because that is where their hearts are. They have not been transformed of the Spirit of God in heart and mind, and so the heart keeps leading them to continue to commit the same deliberate sins over again. They may try to “do better,” but because the heart has not changed, they have not truly changed, for they are still taking the “my do it” approach to the Christian faith.

So, if you are still holding on to unrepentant sin, and even if you try to change, you face one failed attempt after another, please realize that this is a heart issue first and foremost which then results in a behavioral issue. First you must surrender all the evil stored up in the heart like lust, adulteries, lies, unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, selfishness, and pride, and then humble yourselves before God in genuine repentance, and never go back!

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10]   

Your Heart  

An Original Work / October 24, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Tenderly He speaks, softly so.

Gently He calls - His will to know.

Won’t you invite Him in your heart?

Humbly accept Him now.

Bow before Him with contrite heart.

May you obey His will.

Seek Him with all your heart and soul,

And your heart, His Spirit fill.

Jesus died to free you from sin, 

Giving you new life to begin,

Walking with Him ev’ry hour, 

Obeying His commands.

Won’t you trust Him to be your Lord?

His grace you can’t afford.

Freely He gives you peace within, 

When you turn from all your sin. 

Live for Him ev’ry passing day.

Meet with Him; read His word and pray.

Serve Him in the way He leads you,

Doing all that He says. 

Do unto others as you would

Have them do unto you.

Love them with Jesus love within you.

Your hearts to God be true.

https://vimeo.com/125864134

Hearts Far From God

An Original Work / May 2, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love