Verse of the day: Jeremiah 17:10 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.
“Follow your heart.” “You’ll know in your heart.” “Your
heart will tell you.” The person who follows such advice sets himself/herself
up for potential heartache and pain. Why? Because verse 9 of this chapter tells
us clearly that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked”.
In other words, our heart is fraudulent or polluted; it is incurably sick. We
claim to know what our heart wants, and that may be so in the sense that we
want that which is contrary to what God wants for us. We usually say this when
we are determined to do whatever it is we desire, even if it is contrary to God’s
Word, will, and plan for our lives. Many have gone astray and even shipwrecked
their faith following their heart. How often have we done things or chosen to
do something so sinful that we never would have imagined we could do it? Who
can truly know the heart? Only God truly knows our hearts. Only after we come
to Jesus as Savior will we be able to override what is in our hearts, if we
first turn to the Lord, and seek His guidance, rather than trusting ourselves and
our own wisdom and desires. The God who created us, and knows everything about
us, and all that is in our hearts and minds, is the One who knows what is
harbored in our hearts. He knows our every motive and intention. He knows why
we do what we do. When we refuse to do what we know we should do, He knows the
driving force behind that decision. We, as His children, knowing this, should
be careful to examine our own motives, and ask Him to show us, so that we can
be sure we are making decisions and choices based on God’s Word, and God’s
leading, rather than making decisions that are in line with our own
self-interests. By nature, we are sinful and selfish. Therefore, we will first
choose that which benefits us, and may choose to forsake following God’s
conviction in our lives to do good to others. It is this internal conflict that
keeps us in an unforgiving state, as we reason that the wrong done to us is so
great that forgiveness is not deserved. However, this can be said about us when
it comes to God’s forgiveness in our own lives. Yet, He chooses to forgive and
tells us to forgive in the same manner (Eph 4:32). In our service to the Lord,
too many of us do what we do to elevate ourselves, and God is well aware of
what the motivation is in our actions, whether to exalt Him or take the glory
for ourselves. In every aspect of life, with every opportunity to minister to
someone or do whatever God is calling us to do, He will examine what is in our
heart, before we do it, as we do it, and after we have done it. This is
important to know, because the latter part of this verse has much to do with
the day we stand before Him to receive the rewards, or suffer loss, for how we
lived for Him (1 Cor 3:12-15). Sadly, we often give little thought for the
rewards we are gathering or losing, in Heaven, because we are too
earthly-minded, and do not think of Heaven enough. Romans 2:6 tells us that He
will reward us in accordance to our deeds. God knows more about what is in our
hearts than we will ever know; because of this truth, we must avoid thinking
more of ourselves than we should, and boast only in who Christ is in our lives,
for without Him we truly are nothing, and can do nothing of any heavenly worth
(Gal 6:14; Jn 15:5). Let us seek Him daily in prayer and the study of His Word;
and as we live for Him, let us choose His truth over what we “feel” in our
hearts, especially when the two conflict. We will never be led astray following
God’s will and ways, especially when they are contrary to our own selfish
desires.
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