It’s A Heart Matter

Scriptures: (Jeremiah 17:9-10 NKJ) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
     
Not a day passes that I am not reminded of the doings of people, in our churches, neighborhood, schools, community businesses, service workers, politicians locally and nationally, to  include those people we deal with face to face daily. Such people  are found to be dishonest -for selfish gain, misleading, untruthful, hypocritical or hollow-hearted-taking advantage of the poor . They create insecurity,  misrepresentation and false impressions which are all together evil, and wicked doings. They are desperately wicked- (incurably diseased) above everything and beyond cure. From within such people’s heart comes evil thoughts, theft, deceit ,murder and sexual immorality to name a few. Those things come from within and defiles that person (Mark 7:21-23). The Bible states, the heart of man is full of evil and madness yet while they are alive, then they die (Eccl. 9:3). After the flood, God promised to never curse the ground or to destroy humanity on the earth again by a flood even though, (His Word declares)  man’s heart is evil from his youth.  God would therefore preserve the earth for the sake of  humanity ( Gen. 8:21-22). God’s promise brought man hope that faithfulness is paramount.

(Matthew Henry’s commentary)  “The things of God were (By Holy Spirit) plain and easy to those who were willing to be taught and at the same time difficulty and obscure to those who were willingly ignorant.” As in Matthews 13:15, ...this people’s heart has grown callous from their worthless thinking and their depraved hearts has become darkened (Rom. 1:21). They did not glorify God nor did they give thanks. They worshipped created things instead of the Creator (Rom. 1:21-23. Romans 2:5,6- reminds us that a harden and unrepentant heart stores up wrath. In the day of wrath, God’s righteous judgement shall be revealed. He will repay each one according to his works. It is crucial that we not only hear Jesus, but have a heart that’s willing to receive His Word in order to apply it in our lives.

The Lord knows the heart; He designed it. He says that He “ tests the mind, and He searches the Heart”  to reward people for what they deserve. Beloved, God has the ability to read our minds and discern our motives. King David knew how important our thoughts and motives are to God (Ps. 139:2; 23-24)as he penned; “You understand my thoughts afar off. ...Search me, See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in  the way everlasting.” Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Therefore, pay attention to what goes in and out of it.

The Lord is looking for a circumcised heart -- a heart that is pure and separated unto Him. Repentance and accepting Christ allows the Holy Spirit to cut away carnal flesh to make more Christ like. A heart to - (1.) Serve Him- Deut. 11:13,  (2.) Keep His Word- Deut. 26:16, (3.) Seek Him- 2Chron.15:12,  (4.) Trust Him- Prov. 3:5,  (5.) Praise Him- Ps. 86:12,  (6.) Believe Him- Rom. 10:9, 10  ,  (7.) Follow Him- I Kings 14:8,  (8.) Love Him- Matt. 22:31/Deut. 30:6. You have need to love the things He loves and turn away from the things He hates. Put off the former way of life. Your old life was corrupted with deceitful desires (Eph. 4:22). With all diligence, keep your heart. For out of it are the overflows of life.

Prayer: Lord, create within me a clean and upright heart. For, You seek out a heart that is yielded to the Holy Spirit to do Your will. I desire to faithfully serve You, keep Your Word, Trust with my whole heart,  to love, praise, believe and follow You Lord Jesus. In Your Name. Amen

(by Novella D Carpenter)