Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigor; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? - Jane Eyre; Today I am sharing about the blessedness of good theology to guide us through hight intensity emotions and how God's grace and God's Word helps us prove faithful.
Reasoning in Our Own Hearts
When we go through really difficult things - our hearts may try and reason us out of truth because it feels better. It seems like the better way. It is more satisfying or to a bruised or broken or angry heart - it seems more logical.
One example is forgiveness. It is really hard to forgive sometimes. And when we are very hurt, when someone has sinned against us and broken our hearts, it is tempting to withhold forgiveness. We can think it's doing sometime to that person or trick ourselves into thinking it's doing us good.
Reasoning in the Heart without Theology
In Mark chapter 2 four men brought a paralytic to Jesus and lowered him through a roof because there was such a great crowd and Jesus first forgave his sins and it says NKJV 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? "
These scribes had unbelief. They were viewing this event through a bias of their own authority and position affecting their understanding and perception of the event.
They grumbled and questioned God inwardly with their own reasoning.
The Greek word used for heart means this seat and center of spiritual life; it is the fountain and seat of thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors; its the place of understanding.
That is why we need the Word and we need God's grace.
Let's start with God's grace:
I could go through any sin - gossip, gluttony, malice, disrespect, lust, unbelief - and left to our own hearts, we could find ways to justify them. Our hearts will often reason our way into things that please the flesh.
But grace.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
God's grace at work in us, teaches us to say no to sin. To ungodliness; to wickedness.
It's the power of Christ at work in us! It's our way to what John Owen called "mortification of the flesh" or putting sin to death.
He wrote: “Set faith at work on Christ for the killing of thy sin. His blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls. Live in this, and thou wilt die a conqueror; yea, thou wilt, through the good providence of God, live to see thy lust dead at thy feet.”
When we reason in our own hearts without good theology - or the solid truth of God - we will likely ere because we are not a good judge of the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews says Scripture is.
Jane Eyre
Jane says, "I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad- as i am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigor; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. if at my at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth-so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane - quite insane with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count it's throbs. Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot."
Give me a heart and mind like Jane!
Though a fictional character, Bronte illustrated the true nature of our hearts when filled with emotions in decision making moments, and how the rock of Christ gives us sure footing - practical, real, trustworthy ways forward.
We need truth.
The truth sets us free.
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