As the FIFA 2010 World Cup begins the world turns its focus toward the beautiful game. People from different regions all throughout the world find themselves with hearts, minds, and souls in alignment with each other. Although they may view other fans as the supporters of adversaries, they can experience the oneness of the game when a South African striker has a finish reminiscent of a Uruguayan striker. Paraguay supporters celebrate an upset victory in the same way Swiss fans are grateful for theirs. Despite fans all over the world hoping for different outcomes in games, there is a oneness founded in a deep love for the game and all that comes with it.
This is an external expression of mirroring hearts. Our actions give notice to the aim of our hearts. When we think about the ways in which our faith in God is expressed we must ask ourselves if these are the natural outpourings of a heart moving toward alignment with the heart of God.
Where is the evidence of our faith in our lives? How is it fleshed out? Is it manifested through consistent worship attendance? Rigorous Bible study? Avoiding social or cultural taboos and sins?
Or is our faith expression representative of a heart moving toward alignment with the heart of God? Is there more to faith than service attendance and avoiding bad things?
Ultimately we are led to the question, where is God's heart? What are the things that God cares about? Who is God for? Who is God against? How does God act throughout scripture and the rest of history?
The following passages offer a few insights into the vastness of the heart of God:
Psalm 146:5-10
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them —
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,
8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
10 The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD.
Isaiah 1:16-17
Stop doing wrong,
17 learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed .
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
Psalm 103:6-8
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed .
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 10:17-18
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed ,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
Psalm 9:7-10
7 The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.
9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed ,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
1 Samuel 10:18-19
"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'
Luke 4:18-19
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed ,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
May we all come to further communion with the heart of God through studying His word and growing closer to Him and the oppressed in our midst. Amen.
