Posts Tagged ‘heart’

Sometimes, when I am reading through the Scripture, I come across a statement that just doesn’t “feel right” and I begin to question God in my heart. Exodus 9:12 states, “the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh…” God holds Pharaoh accountable and judges him for his actions and attitude. How can that be fair or righteous when the LORD was the one to do the hardening? Even prior to Moses returning to Egypt (Exodus 4) the LORD said to Moses, “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” Did Pharaoh have a chance? Could he have made a different choice?

Maybe the fact that this bothers me just shows that I am idolatrously placing my free will on a pedestal. My idea of ‘fairness’ is that I get to make all final decisions that concern me. I am the boss of me! God can only do what I give him permission to do. Ouch! Time for repentance of my attitude; but that doesn’t provide a satisfactory answer to the “it isn’t fair” worry.

Why would the LORD harden the heart of Pharaoh and then still hold Pharaoh accountable for his hard heart? Romans, chapter one, gives some insight into how this might be appropriate and within the character of God. Verses 18-32 lay out a strong case for why God can justly and righteously turn individuals over to their own impure lusts, dishonorable passions, and debased minds. God has clearly revealed himself to ungodly and unrighteous men, but they (we?) suppress the truth. Since they (we?) do not see fit to acknowledge God, He is actually allowing their (our?) free will to rule; he is just giving them (us?) what they (we?) think they (we?) want.

Are we endangering our relationship with the LORD by trusting in ourselves more than in Him? Are we acknowledging Him in all our ways? The only ‘unfair’ action that God may be accused of is demonstrating His love for us while we are sinners.

Somehow, an eighth grade student in science class discovered that she could use the tip of her pen to cut through paper. Apparently she determined to use this new skill to cut through 100 pages in her journal. I was made aware of this great accomplishment when she randomly blurted out, “I did it!”

What would happen if we demonstrated that same persistence in meditation on God’s Word? Applying His Word may not seem like it is penetrating very deeply into our hearts of stone, at first application, but what would happen with deliberate, repeated application? Could our hearts of stone be pierced or infiltrated? OH, GOD, may it be so!

The Apostle Paul acknowledges the existence of anger in followers of Jesus, and warns them in Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

How would allowing anger to linger into the night hours provide a foothold for the devil? Well, our hearts’ desire becomes our tutor as we sleep.

“I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:7-8 New King James Version)

“I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:7-8 English Standard Version)

These verses shed some light on a truth, a premise, which the devil may be attempting to latch onto. Apparently, David was aware of a principle that we could all take advantage of in our walk with God. Our hearts instruct us in the night seasons. If we go to bed angry, our heart will reinforce that anger. If we go to bed full of the Peace that surpasses all understanding, our hearts will instruct us in the way of peace.

Luke 6:45 tells us that “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks..”  Just like gravity causes objects to come together, the substance of our hearts affect anyone within earshot of our mouths (including ourselves). How might we insure that our hearts be filled with the abundance of God’s Word? How careful are we being to feed the heart with pure and upright thoughts? What steps are we taking to resolve that we only consume a “healthy heart” diet?

I always wonder what the director of music and the congregation of singers thought when the songs of David veered off into angry words against his enemies. Can they relate? Did they also become distracted with life’s anxious cares while trying to lift up praise to their Creator/Designer? I know that I can relate to distraction. My mind is not always trained and focused properly; my thoughts might even stray during times of praise and worship. Verses 19-22 seem a bit out of place; they don’t match the tone of David’s high praise for his LORD. But David knows God well; he knows that “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.” And so, David doesn’t try to cover up or hide his distraction. The man after God’s own heart demonstrates transparency.

 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.

 Commentary by Tony, Scripture quotes from the NIV.

And then David’s heart and mind become refocused, and the music calms and peace returns. David, who began the song with the proclamation that, “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me,” cries out to God to search and know and test. He confesses his anxious thoughts, and petitions God to lead him in the way. May our prayers also be filled with transparency, confession, and petition for God’s leading. Amen.

 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 Commentary by Tony, Scripture quotes from the NIV.

In the midst of an exhortation to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God, Paul reminds us that we can only do that in accordance with the measure of faith God has given us (Romans 12). Peter, in his second epistle, expounds on how we are to take that God-given faith as a base and add to it goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love; we are to “possess these qualities in increasing measure.”  If we are moving in that direction we will be kept “from being ineffective and unproductive” in our true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, tells the young pastor to train himself to be godly because “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” He adds that “godliness with contentment is great gain,” and to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith …” And “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,” writes “to those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ;” and he urges us to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” James has much to say regarding faith and deeds. While it is obvious that our salvation comes purely as a gift from God, it appears that our God-given faith becomes a foundational platform to be built upon.

Before we start thinking that we can bring this about in our own strength, we should turn to the Old Testament. Solomon, in Psalm 127, proclaims, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Proverbs 3 sort of ties this rambling meditation together. Verse 3 says to “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Verse 4 speaks of the effectiveness and fruitfulness of the faith life; “Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” And the familiar verses (5-6) remind us where to go in order to build on the God-given faith. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV)

Christmas often brings up anxious thoughts and feelings. Paul’s teaching may assist you during this “Peace on Earth” season; he reminds all of us how God wishes to be with us and to guard our hearts and minds. Practice rejoicing and demonstrating a thankful attitude, combined with true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praise-worthy thoughts. May the God of peace be with you!

As Pastor Steve shared God’s Holy Word from Acts 8 today, I was impressed with how much God cares about our “Heart Attitudes.” Simon the Sorcerer (magician) received a rebuke from Peter “because your (Simon’s) heart is not right before God.”  The Ethiopian eunuch clearly was seeking after God; this seemed to result in Philip being instructed to minister to him individually. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us.

Do we have a heart that seeks after God without reservation or are we seeking to be seen by men (like Simon the magician)?  “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

When Jesus was asked (as recorded in Mark 12) “Which commandment is the most important of all?” He responded with a quote from Deuteronomy and then added a quote from Leviticus. We were all reminded to love and revere God above all else and to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

In the Deuteronomy quote Jesus is being obedient to Scripture even as he quotes the Scripture. Moses wrote in Dt. 6:6-7 (ESV) “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Jesus was doing just that; He was speaking from the overflow of His own heart and proclaiming the message of Truth to the generations.

In the Leviticus passage (chapter 19) the ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ exhortation comes in the midst of some practical words about how to demonstrate love for our neighbor. 

• Leave the corners of your fields for the poor and the sojourner to glean.
• Don’t steal, oppress, rob, lie to, withhold wages, do injustice, etc.
• Don’t be partial to the poor or defer to the great.

Basically, “do the right thing” with everyone around you and consider how your actions affect others.