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HOW IS YOUR HEART?
HOW IS YOUR HEART
You may have heard a TV commercial lately that starts by saying, "HOW IS YOUR HEART?". This, of course, refers to the physical heart pump of our bodies. It is an effort to sell a high tech instrument that supposedly measures the heart function to some degree. Many folks have probably spent the money to purchase one.
God has made us in a wonderful way. We have both a physical body, which is so very amazing, and also a spiritual body, sometimes referred to as our "heart".
When we observe many of His divine Scriptures, we find references made to this spiritual body, our HEART. It's the part of us that makes decisions, has emotions, and can respond to Our Maker, the God of heaven. He has made us with a will (heart) that can either listen and obey or disobey Him. We also learn of God's "heart" as He expects us to respond to His Will. So, with a few thoughts in mind, please consider a few of His teachings in the Scriptures.
In the letter from Paul to the Colossians we find this in chapter 3:
"And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, PUT ON A HEART OF compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."
(Colossians 3:12,13).
"And beyond all these things put on LOVE, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ RULE IN YOUR HEARTS to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:14,15)
Our outward behavior is controlled by our heart. When Jesus was refuting the Pharisees on one occasion, He used these words:
"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the HEART." (Matthew 12:34)
Luke records these words in chapter 6, in regards to the importance of having a "good heart":
"The good man out of the good treasure of HIS HEART brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from what which FILLS HIS HEART. (Luke 6:45)
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we find this teaching :
"...not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, DOING THE WILLOF GOD FROM THE HEART" (Ephesians 6:6)
God teaches us so many times, He is interested in our hearts. When choosing David to be the new king of Israel, He revealed to Samuel, "but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7f)
So, "HOW IS YOUR HEART?" Are you doing your best to train and develop your heart to do "God's will" ? As He teaches, it must be FROM THE HEART, and in no other way. Let us listen to His Words, and abide by them. Do we not want to go to heaven? Ross
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