How does it affect your attitude toward God, toward the Lord Jesus Christ, toward the Scriptures?
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (Psalm 101:3)
Where your affections are is where your heart is, and since our hearts, our emotional state, can easily be swayed or even deceived, our attitude toward the Father, Son and Holy Spirit must be based not just on love, but on love that comes with faith in them.
If your attitude is one of unquestionable faith in the sovereignty of the Almighty, and you are positive that you have been chosen by Him, and are assured in that fact, your attitude will be one of unending love.
If there is no doubt in your mind whatsoever that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the only way to the Father, if the truths of the Scriptures concerning Him are all indeed truth to you, then your attitude is one of faith, and that faith is expressed in enduring love.
If the Holy Spirit is real to you, if you can hear the truths He offers you, if your attitude is one of obedience because of these truths He reveals to you, then you know a peace that passes all understanding, and that peace has brought an attitude of love you never before knew existed.
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Prov. 8:17)
Every false prophet, every selfish gainsayer, every works-based religious organization, charismatic, prosperity preacher, all attempt to reach a place within a person that goes no further than the emotions of the heart, whether it be in some form of adoring love or fear of reprisals that they proclaim is the right one. They will all tell you they have a closer relationship to the Almighty than you do, not in so many words, but it will be inferred continuously. Satan does no less, and many if not most of these mentioned are nothing more than his tools, tools to reach the heart, to modify the emotions.
But that is as far as they can go.
What teachings have you accepted that changed your attitude apart from an emotional context, those that have modified the way you think about the Living God, the way you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, the way that you interpret not only what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach you, but the Word of God itself?
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8)
If they are accursed, and you not only believe them, but follow their teachings, where does that leave you?
Sound Biblical doctrine is rarely accepted today, instead if those in the pews find that their ears are not being tickled, if they are not made to feel in an affirming way, then either they will leave or the one behind the pulpit will be replaced. The emotional context is what defines their attitudes, and they have stopped seeking to be convicted, their humility is feigned, they are as the silly women led astray, they no longer judge themselves.
The days of “God is love and only love” are upon us, and as long as God loves us, everything will be alright. Perhaps the most subtle deception ever invented by our adversary.
Our attitude is to be one of humble submission to the will and words of the Most High, no matter how we feel about it, no matter the circumstances that surround us or the possible consequences to ourselves.
The attitude of love cannot be expressed unless the attitude of uncompromising faith comes first.
