Bible

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The Heart

In the Bible the word heart obviously refer to something other than the muscle that pumps blood throughout our bodies.  So, what is the Bible referring to?  It’s not our soul because we are told to love the Lord with all our heart and soul; therefore, the two are separate. As I have searched through the scriptures, it seems that the heart embodies the deep inner self where emotions, moral values, and our decision making process resides.  In essence, the heart is where we live.

I’ve been concerned about what is in my heart.  Jesus said that what comes out of a man’s heart can make him unclean.  I find that what comes out of my heart is a mixed bag.  There is in my heart the potential of both good and evil.  So, what can I do about this?

Paul prayed for the Ephesians: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith….” (Ephesians 3:16-17).  I need to be strengthened in my inner being.  I need God’s power to overcome the evil things in my heart, so the things that “come out” of me will be good things.

In Psalm 51 David asks God to create in him a pure heart. (Psalm 51:10)     I join with David in this prayer.  My deep inner being, my heart, needs the presence and the power of God if it is to be good.  God alone is good.  Goodness comes from me when I am full of God.

“Create in me a pure heart most generous and merciful God”.  “Draw me closer to you that I may reflect your goodness.” Amen!

On a Quest
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On a Quest

A young man stumbled down the path to the village square.  He stopped to rest at the well and then collapsed.  The villagers gathered to see the stranger, but were hesitant to approach for he appeared to be sickly.  His body was dirty and emaciated.  Mrs. Murphy, who was never hindered by indecision, strode through the crowd right up to the boy.  After ascertaining that he was alive, she instructed several of the men to carry him to her cottage.  There they laid him on a cot in her den while Mrs. Murphy went to the kitchen to warm the lad some broth.

The boy regained consciousness enough to drink the warm fluid, and throughout the night Mrs. Murphy stirred him with more broth, and then let him return to sleep.  By morning the young stranger had recovered somewhat.

“What’s your name?” asked the town constable who had arrived early to look into the matter.

“William Morgan,” the boy replied.

“Well, William Morgan, what brings you to our village?”

“I’m on a quest to find my parents,” the lad said with unquestionable sincerity.  “I awoke one morning, and they were gone.  I searched everywhere, but I could not find them.  Finally, I set off to search for them, but I have yet to find them.”

Just then the constable’s assistant interrupted, “A dispatch came in some months ago from Broaden Flats.”  “It said that a Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were looking for their lost son.”  “He disappeared one morning while they were out walking.”

“Broaden Flats is where I’m from!” cried William.

When on a quest searching for God, just remember that he’s right there.  He hasn’t gone anywhere.  He’s waiting for you.

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Reflection on Psalm 139

In Psalm 139, David expresses his understanding of the intimate way that God knows him. God knows his thoughts, his location, his habits, and what he is going to say before he says it.  Nothing about David is hidden from God.  He cares for David and guards over him.  I believe David’s insight about his relationship with God reveals truth for us all.  Hebrews 4: 13 reminds us that, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight”.  Therefore, God knows our thoughts, our location, our habits, and what we are going to say before we say it.  As you think about this, how do you respond?

David’s response to these thoughts is precious. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain”.  I believe David was overwhelmed by the idea that the creator of the universe paid that much attention to the details of his life.   I am also stunned, if you will, that the creator of the universe pays that much attention to me.  He also pays that much attention to you.

As I contemplated the knowledge that God knows me this intimately, I sought a proper response.  I finally decided that I should seek to know more about him.  I remembered that Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”   With Jesus’ words to insure success, I am seeking to know more about God.  We often sing in our worship songs, “I want to know you more”.   Well, here I go.

David, at the end of a life of seeking God, told his son Solomon:

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with whole hearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

The advice of David, the man after God’s own heart, is to serve and seek the true God with the assurance that he will be found.  I’d like to know him more.  Won’t you joint me in this quest?

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Who Is This Jesus?

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Colossians 1: 15-17.  In this passage Paul gives us an insight into who Jesus really is.  He writes:

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The last statement, “in him all things hold together,” always intrigues me.  When considering atoms, the invisible building blocks of the whole universe, the question has always been what holds an atom together?  Perhaps the answer is Jesus.  And, of course, I have had to ask myself, what would happen if he let go?  Well, the reality is that Jesus holds all things together, whatever that actually means, and this points to the ultimate power of our savior.  The one who humbled himself and came to earth in human form is the all-powerful Creator God.

Sharing about this scripture shines light on how ridiculous were the struggles I shared about in last week’s post.  Jesus is God in the fullest sense.  He has been given complete authority over all things.  He is the supreme ruler over all of creation.  What he did for us shows his amazing character, and warrants him eternal praise and thanksgiving.

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Jesus is God

Reading the Gospels became really difficult for me several years ago.  Jesus’ words seemed harsh and prideful even arrogant.  What? You may ask yourself.  Well, please bear with me.  You know that confession is good for the soul.  Yes, I found myself avoiding the Gospels for they were troublesome to me.  Finally, for I am slow to get around to dealing with spiritual problems, I asked the Holy Spirit for help.  The answer to my dilemma was, as it usually is, simple.

I was reading the words of Jesus with the mindset that he is just a man.  I was judging him based on the idea that these are the words of a man.  Man capable of sin if you will.  Wow, this sounds horrible doesn’t it, yet that is where I was.  First, the Holly Spirit reminded me that Jesus is wholly God.  He is also wholly man, but he is without sin.  If Jesus had sinned, salvation would not have been possible.  Through these clarifying reminders, the Spirit led me to a place of repentance.

I now read the Gospels with enthusiasm and delight.  My mindset is that of walking beside my God as he speaks.  I was walking in pride with my judgments, and it blinded me.  Praise be to God for his great mercy and deliverance.

There are still words and situations in the Gospels that I don’t understand.  But who fully understands God?  I understand that God’s ways are not my ways, and his thoughts are not my thoughts (see Isaiah 55:8&9).  So, when I don’t understand, that’s when trust comes in.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).  Psalm 25:10 says, all the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.  I believe the Lord is loving and faithful, so therefore I am now comforted by the words of Jesus.