"I Know In My Heart..."
This phrase is uttered by millions of people around the world.
Most of the time, those speaking it are aware they are not living according
to the Bible, but choose to believe they are saved anyway.
Introduction
As we talk about the human organ that pumps the blood, there is no question
it is vital to our lives.
Without the heart working properly, there is no good life.
The Scriptures also describe the word heart to mean the mind, soul, spirit,
and even the entirety of ones thinking and emotional nature.
Sometimes the phrase "heart" means to get to the center or middle
of a thing or concept.
In the early days of mankind, we see that sin was within the heart of the people.
God spoke in Genesis 6:5: "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was
great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually".
Seems like that is what is happening today in our world.
So true the preacher said: Ecclesiastes 1:9 “That which has been is that
which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done, so,
there is nothing new under the sun”.
God promised blessings for everyone who would serve Him with their hearts.
Deuteronomy 11:13-14 “And it shall come about, if you listen obediently
to My commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God
and to serve Him with all your heart and all you soul, that He will give the
rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather
in your grain and your new wine and your oil”
We learn that later the people did not serve God with their heart.
Isaiah 29:13 “Then the LORD said, ‘Because this people draw near
with their words and honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their
hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned
by rote.”
Going through the motions without the heart being involved is foolishness.
The word is used hundreds of times in the scriptures.
The Scriptures refer to the heart as the seat or strength of life.
But there is a problem when we rely upon our feelings rather than the word of
God.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately
sick; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind,
even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of
his deeds.”
To rely upon feelings gives on a false sense of security.
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end
is the way of death”. (repeated in Proverbs 16:25)
Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the
LORD weighs the motives”.
Feelings just do not cut it when it comes to serving God faithfully.
Where we must be careful in uttering the phrase of our title is making sure
it is not based on false information.
Most people who use this phrase are referring to their feelings that they are
connected with God in some relationship.
Many claim to have such a relationship with God and Jesus, but their actions
speak differently.
Titus 1:16 addresses this problem: “They profess to know God, but by their
deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any
good deed.”
We must be aware that the heart directs the rest of us.
Proverbs speaks of the heart quite often (86 verses to be specific).
Proverbs 3:1 “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments”:
Proverbs 3:3 “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy
neck; write them upon the table of thine heart”:
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding”.
Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow
the springs of life”.
Proverbs 10:8 “The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling
fool will be thrown down”.
Proverbs 12:23 “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools
proclaims folly”.
Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel
of the LORD, it will stand.
Jesus told us our every action is based upon what is in our hearts.
Matthew 15:18-19 we read: "But the things that proceed out of the mouth
come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
These are the things that defile the man..."
Notice some examples of people who purposed in their heart to do what was right.
Ezra 7:10: For Ezra purposed in his heart to learn the law of the LORD, so that
he could do it, and to teach His statutes in Israel".
Daniel 1:8 "For Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the king's food...“
We should be preparing ourselves in our hearts that we will serve the Lord faithfully
and to the best of our ability.
We must acknowledge that God is not in the heart of most people.
The only way to change people is through the heart.
They have to want the change in their lives.
When Peter preached on Pentecost, the word says that "they were pricked
in their heart" and they asked what they needed to do (Acts 2:37).
There is so much more we can say about the heart.
Do yourself a favor and go through the Bible and see all the passages with the
word "heart".
Study them diligently, and your heart will be changed and motivated to do God's
will.
That way, you will not have to constantly ask yourself “What’s wrong
with me, why can’t I get into serving God as I should”?
Focus upon serving God and you will not ask that.
Conclusion
We all need to work on the people we know to fix the heart problem of our homes
and our nation.
We may have to start with ourselves.
Until we do so, problems will continue.
When we put God in our hearts, things will be much better for us.
If we can get others to seek God with their whole heart, things will get better
for them.
By Carey Scott
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