Truth vs. Emotion

Are you anything like me? Are you driven by your emotions? I think if you're honest, you might agree.

This week I went to a night of praise and worship and the music was amazing and I love singing to my Jesus. However, something didn't sit right when a guy got up and explained how the music was so powerful and moved him much more than anybody that could get up and read a Bible verse. Because, well, music is powerful and stirs emotions, but what about the Word of God?

Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 

And one of my absolute favorites, Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." 

It's incredibly easy to be moved by emotion, to place an emphasis on what we feel. In fact, God gave us those emotions to draw us closer to Him. But it's when we distort them and place a higher emphasis on what we're experiencing instead of on the unchanging truths proclaimed in the Word of God that we run into trouble. Because Satan knows about our emotions and he enjoys toying with them. That's where he plants seeds, because if you don't feel something, it must not be true.

So let's look at what the Bible DOES say here. 
1. We were created by God, and He said it was good. (Genesis 1:26-31)
2. We have a problem with sin, which separates us from God because He is holy and without sin. (Romans 3:23)
3. God extends His grace (what we don't deserve) and mercy (not giving us what we do deserve) to us in sending His Son to take our place when a blood sacrifice was required. (Romans 5:8, Hebrews 9:22, Colossians 2:13-14)
4. We can now, by the faith given to us by God Himself, stand before God as righteous (right standing with God) and perfect. (Philippians 3:9)
5. We have been buried with Christ in His death and now have a new life, as a new creation, that will live forever with Him. (Colossians 2:12)

And friends, none of that is based on emotion. It's not how you feel today or if the music moves you; it's fact. Solid truth that you can stand upon, because the man who builds his house upon a rock will not be moved. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Where is your house? Where is your faith?