I have heard it said more than once that a kid has a lot of "heart." This is a term that gets used a lot especially in athletics but it is also something that God looks for. Just not so much in the way that we might perceive it. It was the reason that God wanted to replace Saul with David. It was the reason that He called Moses out of the wilderness to lead His people. It directed the fortunes of Joseph in captivity in Egypt. Esther was guided by it to protect her people. And ultimately it is where everything began with Jesus.
The heart. It reflects to the world who we are just like a mirror shows us what we look like. But unlike a mirror which only shows the outer, the heart shows the inner character we display. It is the leader of the soul, guiding the decisions we make and dictating what we choose to leave behind or take with us on our journey. Our hearts set the course of our lives each and every single day.
Jesus talked about the heart a lot in his ministry. He told the religious leaders of His day that the prophet Isaiah had described them perfectly, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;" (Matthew 15:8 ESV). Another time He was even harsher with them, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:34-35 ESV)
In our relationships, the state of our hearts will reveal how we view those around us. Do we see people in terms of their roles and responsibilities or do we deal with their hearts as the special creations God intended? Can we look past the external and see them as they really are? Do we see their friendship as a burden or a blessing? Do you really believe that you were uniquely created by a God that loves and walks along with you?
The condition of our heart will set the tone for all your relationships-including the most critical one of all-your relationship with God. It is the lens that we all look through. If your relationship with God isn't what it should be the lens will be dirty and hard to see through, our perceptions of others will be skewed by the damaged lens that we see through. It is no wonder that Jesus said a prerequisite for seeing God was a pure heart. And in Proverbs 4:23 it tells us, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, from it flow the springs of life." In the Kingdom of God and in all our relationships, the heart matters.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8 ESV
The heart. It reflects to the world who we are just like a mirror shows us what we look like. But unlike a mirror which only shows the outer, the heart shows the inner character we display. It is the leader of the soul, guiding the decisions we make and dictating what we choose to leave behind or take with us on our journey. Our hearts set the course of our lives each and every single day.
Jesus talked about the heart a lot in his ministry. He told the religious leaders of His day that the prophet Isaiah had described them perfectly, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;" (Matthew 15:8 ESV). Another time He was even harsher with them, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:34-35 ESV)
In our relationships, the state of our hearts will reveal how we view those around us. Do we see people in terms of their roles and responsibilities or do we deal with their hearts as the special creations God intended? Can we look past the external and see them as they really are? Do we see their friendship as a burden or a blessing? Do you really believe that you were uniquely created by a God that loves and walks along with you?
The condition of our heart will set the tone for all your relationships-including the most critical one of all-your relationship with God. It is the lens that we all look through. If your relationship with God isn't what it should be the lens will be dirty and hard to see through, our perceptions of others will be skewed by the damaged lens that we see through. It is no wonder that Jesus said a prerequisite for seeing God was a pure heart. And in Proverbs 4:23 it tells us, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, from it flow the springs of life." In the Kingdom of God and in all our relationships, the heart matters.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8 ESV
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