"Elective Surgery" -2

Now then; before I go any further, I must warn you about something: this may get physical, and it surely will get personal. Thinking about something that I said at the closing of yesterday's blog, I believe that this explains so much about fallen leadership within our churches; it comes down to a little thing called a callous heart; which many would say that it means a heart that has become hard, or a hardened heart; which may be the condition that the heart is in; but, there is another meaning to this word, which I believe are the properties that a calloused heart has as it's manner of expression. Expression of what? What have we been talking about all year long? A little-Big thing called Love!!! The other meaning of the word callous is unfeeling, or insensitive; which has so much more to do with love then we would care to admit. The unfeeling or insensitive heart is a heart that has no depth for love; in other words, love does not, and is not able to penetrate into it's core any longer. This is a heart that might feel love, but the love that it feels is only on the surface; making love superficial in nature, which cannot take root, and thus is unable to be the motivating factor in a persons ability to obey God, or to follow His commands. Instead, the factor which becomes the motivator is one of what looks right in the eyes of others; which is only on the surface, or what is portrayed for all to see. Sadly, this type of heart will not be healed by simply praying for God to heal it; Why is that? Cut away!!! That is why! It must be cut away from the heart of the Believer; which will require elective surgery at the Hand of God, but at the cost of the one who's heart has been hardened saying, Whatever it takes! I know it's going to hurt, but do whatever is needed to fix it! Again, this is not something that can just be prayed for; this is something that must be lived out, otherwise the heart may get harder still once the surgery has begun. Those that are in leadership within the church have the least amount of chance with this type of surgery, because they can hide behind their service to the church, fooling themselves into believing that they are cured. But they forget one very important thing: God is not fooled! This might sound devastating to some, but the harsh reality is that works can become a replacement for love in the heart of those that serve. Having said all of that, let me assure you that all is not lost in the case of those who's heart has been hardened. God is mighty to save, and if we really want to be healed, then He will, and can perform it...