No, I don’t mean the vital blood pump that certainly needs our attention and should
be carefully guarded with proper diet and exercise if we want to live well. What I’m talking about is that inward part of
our being that we mean when we say, “I love you with all my heart.” That “heart” encompasses not only our deepest
emotions, but also includes our conscious thoughts, active choices and
attitudes. It’s what makes us the unique
person that each of us is. In reality it
is the condition of that heart that determines whether we live well or not.
When I was reading in the Bible in the book of Romans recently, I came across a remarkable statement by the Apostle Paul: “…he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart…and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29 NASB). Now Paul was writing this epistle to all the Christians, both Jew and Gentile, in Rome. What could he have meant and what was his purpose in writing it?
Jesus made a similar distinction in speaking to the religious leaders who criticized his disciples for not ceremonially washing their hands before eating. He told them that “there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him” (Mark 7:15a); “but the things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man” (Matthew 15:18).
Before we speak, take action or respond to any situation, we process it in the heart first. It has been said that if you want to know what a person is really like, just see what they do when they think no one is watching. It’s rare that we get that opportunity with someone else, but we can readily apply it to ourselves. How would you rate yourself?
Another way to honestly evaluate ourselves is to examine our thought life since this is where it all begins. Proverbs 4:23 says, “…guard you heart, for everything you do flows from it,” and Jesus said that the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matthew 12:34b NASB).
Which condition best describes what fills your heart: hot coffee, ice water or body lotion? One way to uncover what truly lies beyond the façade that we all tend to hide our real selves behind is to get jostled unexpectedly by some aggravation and, like a person carefully carrying a brimming full cup of liquid, see what spills out when it happens. Try the test on yourself.
Here’s a scenario that might help. You’ve had a bad day and you’re driving home, running a little late, when all of a sudden a car cuts in front of you causing both of you to miss a particularly long traffic light.
How do you react? Be honest!
Do you raise your voice in burning anger and call them uncomplimentary names, or do you coldly stare at them with hateful thoughts about where they should spend their future, or do you forgive them and pray for them, realizing they may be going through a worse day than you have had? What spills out: scalding coffee, frigid water, or soothing body lotion? What’s in your heart?
That was Paul’s concern for the Romans. He wanted them to know that the outward façade of signs and traditions did not matter with God. They may be honored by men but not God. Praise from Him will be inward, in the heart. Spiritually speaking, being a Jew, one of God’s chosen people, was not about birth or ceremonies or traditions, but about the condition of the heart, not stubborn, unbelieving and full of evil thoughts, but submitted to Him.
We could apply the same principle to the term Christian, today. We are not true Christians because of our church affiliations, attendance or positions of leadership – all outward signs and traditions of men, which may have value. Rather, we are Christians because of the condition of our hearts yielded in faith to God through Jesus Christ.
No wonder Paul urged Christians to take control of their thought life. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:9).
How might our reaction to the driving scenario differ if at that time our minds are dwelling on the things Paul mentions?
Let’s go a step further and become proactive in applying the Philippians 4:9 test to our entire thought life to ensure that it has no dark secrets and is pleasing to the Lord. May we boldly ask Him to be the guardian of all our thoughts.
When I was reading in the Bible in the book of Romans recently, I came across a remarkable statement by the Apostle Paul: “…he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart…and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29 NASB). Now Paul was writing this epistle to all the Christians, both Jew and Gentile, in Rome. What could he have meant and what was his purpose in writing it?
Jesus made a similar distinction in speaking to the religious leaders who criticized his disciples for not ceremonially washing their hands before eating. He told them that “there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him” (Mark 7:15a); “but the things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man” (Matthew 15:18).
Before we speak, take action or respond to any situation, we process it in the heart first. It has been said that if you want to know what a person is really like, just see what they do when they think no one is watching. It’s rare that we get that opportunity with someone else, but we can readily apply it to ourselves. How would you rate yourself?
Another way to honestly evaluate ourselves is to examine our thought life since this is where it all begins. Proverbs 4:23 says, “…guard you heart, for everything you do flows from it,” and Jesus said that the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matthew 12:34b NASB).
Which condition best describes what fills your heart: hot coffee, ice water or body lotion? One way to uncover what truly lies beyond the façade that we all tend to hide our real selves behind is to get jostled unexpectedly by some aggravation and, like a person carefully carrying a brimming full cup of liquid, see what spills out when it happens. Try the test on yourself.
Here’s a scenario that might help. You’ve had a bad day and you’re driving home, running a little late, when all of a sudden a car cuts in front of you causing both of you to miss a particularly long traffic light.
How do you react? Be honest!
Do you raise your voice in burning anger and call them uncomplimentary names, or do you coldly stare at them with hateful thoughts about where they should spend their future, or do you forgive them and pray for them, realizing they may be going through a worse day than you have had? What spills out: scalding coffee, frigid water, or soothing body lotion? What’s in your heart?
That was Paul’s concern for the Romans. He wanted them to know that the outward façade of signs and traditions did not matter with God. They may be honored by men but not God. Praise from Him will be inward, in the heart. Spiritually speaking, being a Jew, one of God’s chosen people, was not about birth or ceremonies or traditions, but about the condition of the heart, not stubborn, unbelieving and full of evil thoughts, but submitted to Him.
We could apply the same principle to the term Christian, today. We are not true Christians because of our church affiliations, attendance or positions of leadership – all outward signs and traditions of men, which may have value. Rather, we are Christians because of the condition of our hearts yielded in faith to God through Jesus Christ.
No wonder Paul urged Christians to take control of their thought life. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:9).
How might our reaction to the driving scenario differ if at that time our minds are dwelling on the things Paul mentions?
Let’s go a step further and become proactive in applying the Philippians 4:9 test to our entire thought life to ensure that it has no dark secrets and is pleasing to the Lord. May we boldly ask Him to be the guardian of all our thoughts.
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