Come Follow Me Day 33

Day 33 “Worms”

Devotional: 

Perhaps you’ve had the experience of biting into an apple only to discover a worm in it. Although producers of apples do their best to keep this from happening, it’s inevitable that it will happen from time to time. 

Many people think the worm works its way in from the outside. It’s actually been discovered that the worm comes from the inside. When the apple blossom is on the tree, an insect comes along and lays an egg in it. Sometimes later the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats its way out. 

Sin, like the worm, begins in the heart. That’s what Jesus was saying in v. 20, “out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts.” That’s why we mentioned in a previous devotional that we have to guard the heart above all else. We all need to pray the prayer of David in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” 

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local newspaper: “Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before, and he died a very rich man.” 

But, actually, it was Alfred’s older brother who had died; a newspaper reporter had made a mistake.  But the account had a profound effect on Nobel.  So he decided he wanted to be known for something other than developing the means to kill people efficiently and for amassing a fortune in the process.  So he initiated the Nobel Prize, the award for scientists and writers who foster peace. Nobel said, “Every man ought to have the chance to correct his eulogy in midstream and write a new one.”

It’s true that it’s never too late to change the direction of your life. But it begins by having the heart renewed. A changed life comes from a changed heart! How can we have a renewed heart? First of all, we need to make sure we have a regenerated heart. We have to make sure we have a relationship with Jesus, not a religion about Jesus. Making sure you are born again is the beginning place. 

Assuming you are, another thing to consider is whether or not you have a consumed heart. We can’t serve two Gods. God will not play second fiddle to anyone or anything. Is there an idol we need to repent of? God must have first place in our heart. Another thing to consider is our horizontal relationships. Our horizontal relationships affect our vertical relationship with God. Is there an unhealthy relationship on earth? It will affect our heavenly relationship with God. Perhaps it’s something else, but these items are a good starting place. 

Apples are yummy but not if they have worms in them. Hearts aren’t good if they have “worms” in them. What is a “worm” you need to get out of your heart?

Prayer: 

Take some time praying Psalm 51:10 today… “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”