Emotional Stir

Mark 11:10

There are times when churches or religious meetings experience a great "emotional stir". I am not saying emotions in services are not good. There is often this dumb argument that we should not have an emotional response to the preaching or singing in a service. I will say it again, that is a dumb argument. All through the Bible, people had an emotional response to God's word and singing.

---

Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Mark 11:10

---

The problem comes when that is all we have. When we leave the response at joy, sorrow, or even anger. Our emotions should motivate us towards action. Joy should lead to praise and worship. Sorrow should lead to prayer and/or repentance. This prayer could be intercessory for someone else. It could be prayer for our nation. Repentance could be personal or for a larger body we are part of (family, church, business, or government). Anger should motivate us towards righteous action against sin. This anger could result in participation in government to try and end unrighteous actions, or supporting a cause that fights against evil individuals like human traffickers.

God made us with emotions and he expects us to use all of them to glorify Him. Our joy, sadness, depression, anger, loneliness, and all our other emotions are to draw us closer to Him. However, we often allow these emotions to do the opposite.

The people in our text had an emotional response, but that was all. They even sang praises to God. However, this same crowd would cry "crucify him" two days later. Why? Because all they had was an emotional response. They did not allow this joy, adoration, and praise to actually draw them closer to God. They were not seeking God's will, they were seeking their own. So, when God was offering up His Passover lamb (Exodus 12), when he was providing the sacrifice that Abraham told Isaac about on the mountain (Genesis 22:8), when he was about to bruise the head of Satan (Genesis 3:15). Their superficial response blinded them from what God was actually doing.

Today, there is the danger of us doing exactly the same thing. We hear a message that stirs our emotions and we respond with tears, singing, or maybe even going to the altar, but that is as far as we allow God's word to take us. I wonder how many people will be in hell who shed tears at the gospel message but never received Christ. I wonder how many men have walked the aisle at church and announced their call to preach, but never followed through. I wonder how many Christians will get to heaven with no rewards because they were called to repentance of sins and a closer walk with God, but they made a promise they did not keep.

Father, help me to not respond to your conviction with only emotional responses. Strengthen me so that I do not cry "Hosanna in the Highest" one day and "Crucify Him" the next. May my emotions be used to glorify you through repentance, worship, and a closer walk with you.