The Law in 90 Days: Genesis 21-22
SCRIPTURE READING
Psalm 14:1a (ESV); The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Many of us would read this verse and assume it is talking about atheists, and we would come to the
logical conclusion that “atheists are fools.” We would think piously, “I would never say ‘there is no
God’!” But the verse doesn’t refer to the speech of the mouth, rather the speech of the heart. And if
we took the time to examine our hearts, we would see the fool skulking within us.
There are many things we would not say, but that doesn’t exempt us from guilt. The Pharisees
of Jesus’ time said and did things to the letter of the law, yet Jesus said to them, “You are like
whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s
bones and everything unclean.” (Mat. 23:27) Many people manage to get through life without adding
an expletive to every sentence, but are their hearts always free of anger and carelessness? Adultery
is (or at least should be) taboo in most Christian marriages, but does the heart flee from lust?
The thoughts and attitudes of the heart often testify, “There is no God.” When we know God in truth,
we know Him to be holy, righteous, pure and just. We will fear Him when we know who He is. And
then we will strive to obey Him and serve Him and love others! Not only will our mouths declare the
reality of His presence, but His Spirit will be evident in our lives! It is foolish to think that we can trick
God by presenting ourselves as outwardly beautiful when our hearts are full of everything unclean.
But the wise man says in his heart, “There IS a God!”
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you how your heart has declared “There is no God”. Think about the things
you would say (or not say) compared to what goes on in your heart.
2. Ask God to reveal how the thoughts and attitudes of your heart are, or are becoming, poison to
your life.
3. Spend some time in confession for sin that the Spirit reveals.
4. How can your heart, mind, body and spirit declare “there IS a God” today? Ask God to give you
unity with His Spirit today!
