SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                            1010

“Two Face”

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)

Harvey Dent is a fictional character from the Batman series of comic books and movies. When I read about being double-minded in the Bible I think about Harvey Dent. Harvey was the District Attorney – an upstanding member of the community until he was disfigured by a mobster. He then allowed bitterness to take root in his soul and he became the evil and unstable character, Two-Face.

Is it possible that we who profess to be Christians can also be two-faced and double-minded? God’s Word cautions us about the tendency we all possess to be two-faced. …bring no more vain offerings…I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly (Isaiah 1:13)

Unforgiveness – This is one area where we can be two-faced. Someone has hurt us, with malice and forethought or unintentionally, it does not matter. They may be coworkers, neighbors, fellow church members, or family. What matters is that we have allowed bitterness to take root in our heart and we harbor ill-will and hatred toward them. How can we approach a Holy God in worship when we have a hardened heart full of bitterness? …leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:24)

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ (Matthew 18: 32-33)

Lukewarm – We can be two-faced or double minded in that we seek as much worldliness as we can and still feel good about our Christian walk of faith. In a sense we are people of the world who are ‘playing church’. This makes us lukewarm in the eyes of Jesus. I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16)

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24)

Doubt – When our relationship with Jesus is an occasional Sunday or Holiday experience we become spiritually anemic. When the trials of life come we will lack the stability of a firm foundational relationship of faith and trust in God. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)

May the Holy Spirit speak clearly to your heart and show you areas of double-mindedness that need to be cleansed. May the Spirit of God draw you into a closer relationship with Him. May He give you the supernatural ability to forgive as He forgave you. May the Lord pave the way, prepare hearts, and open the doors for reconciliation and restoration of broken relationships.