Thoughts on Christ and His Word

Capital One had some funny commercials were some Vikings always asked "what's in your wallet?" But God wants to know what's in your heart? According to Jeremiah 17:10 God rewards us for our good conduct. But it is clear that our conduct flows from our heart. The verse says "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what h is deeds deserve." So we should guard our heart from growing cold and sinful, so that  good deeds can flow from us and we can be rewarded by God on Judgment Day.

I have often wondered about 1st John 4:20 - If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? NKJV I have thought, I can love God without loving people. Of course if I think of love as a feeling, that would be true. But John uses love as a verb (action). If I do not serve my brother (whom I can see and touch) out of love, then how can I serve God whom I cannot see nor touch.  God says that in order to really love and serve Him I must love and serve my brothers.