How Is MY Heart?
Only God searches the heart, so only He knows the real motives behind our choices.
“You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts…Luke 16:15
*It is sobering to know that God knows. He doesn’t just know what I do but he knows my motives behind what I do. That is a scary thing. God help my motives to be pure.
What do I value? What fills my heart? What do I dream about?
If it mirrors the world, then I’m missing it.
The world lusts after a “Front cover of Sports Illustrated, Vogue, GQ, lifestyle.” Beauty, riches, flash, glamour, no restraints, do as you please, worship self, praise me, buy what I’m selling – can’t afford it then credit it.
*When you think about it- We live in a more idolatrous age today – right now – than ever before.
This world serves many god’s and lives with a different value system and God looks on it with disgust.
But we must never, ever forget that God IS the blessing! He is our inheritance!
Jesus calls the Pharisees on their hypocrisy (v15). He accuses them of self-righteous justification.
* They were consumed with the appearance or veneer of religion.
** But there was no internal change. Christ warned His hecklers that “God knows your hearts.”
*Here is a theme repeated all throughout the Bible. God looks at the heart. He knows our true motives (2Chron 6:30).
*In Jeremiah, the LORD announces that He not only searches the heart of man, but knows that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick” (Jer 17:9-10).
Jesus reminds them, “For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
This is a powerful reminder that God’s ways are not our ways. His ways are higher than our ways.
Luke 16:15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.(NKJV)
* Luke’s use of the term “abomination” carries the idea of something that stinks. Our attempts at self-righteousness are a horrible stench in the nostrils of God.
Christ tells these religious bullies that they had better check themselves before they wreck themselves!!!!
* Stop using God as a heavenly vending machine and start worshiping as Almighty Yahweh.
We need to ask our self daily–What is happening with the spiritual fruit of God’s blessing on our life?
Is it clogged, or is it freely flowing to others?
* Ask the Lord to free you to be a blessing to those in your circle of influence.
Galatians 6:3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
*Someone out there needs YOUR friendship and needs to hear YOUR testimony…
*True friends bring us closer to Jesus.
* What God has called us to do, is part of our identity…
*Our success in what we do is not seen in what we do compared to others; but in our sincerity and genuine heart.
*What we do will be known… Maybe not on a large scale, but it will be known…
Galatians 6:9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
We need to make a special effort to stay focused and not allow distractions to keep us from efficiency and effectiveness in the kingdom.
There are any number of things that could take us off course or interrupt the flow of the Lord’s Spirit in and through us.
Our concentration on our relationship with the Lord is vital to our spiritual health.
Rise above the issues of life and the cares of the world and trust Jesus to lead you in peace.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
*How we take care of our heart is directly relative to how issues spring about. Good or bad.
With God’s power in our heart at work imagine the beautiful things that will spring forward from our heart.
If the devil and our flesh be at work, what defilement would come from our heart.
Be in the Word, be in prayer, be in fellowship, be sharing the good news. To keep the heart is to be close to God.
Lord today, get us back to our own status, and help us to recognize Your identity just as you are. May you continue to help us, as we truly want to understand Your values. We want to see with Your eyes and feel with Your heart. So that we know what is detestable and what is worthy. Lord I pray for Your Holy Spirit to open up Your Word (66 perfect love letters inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Bible) in my heart each day to bring You Glory in ALL my thoughts and words! As your word says: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting”.
In Jesus’ Name,Amen!