Good morning, brothers and sisters.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 8:21, “You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.”
The hollow, muscular organ in your chest that receives blood from the veins and pumps it through the arteries by alternate dilation and contraction is called the heart. Likewise, your heart is described as the center or source of your emotions, personality, disposition and intent, and inmost thoughts and feelings. As impossible as it is to look at someone and see their heart beating underneath their skin, behind their sternum, and within their pericardium, it is just as difficult, if not more so, to fully know the heart of another. Yet, we completely understand when we hear phrases like breaking my heart, to know something by heart, eat your heart out, from the bottom of my heart, to take something to heart, to wear your heart on your sleeve, half-hearted, and to have one’s heart in the right place. Applied to our anatomy, many of these sayings would prove to be fatal, not to mention completely gross. But for the more poetic nature of the heart, these idioms carry significant meaning as to our true self and identity. And when we hear someone express their love being with all their heart, we know the intent is to convey that their love is the fullest and deepest and most sincere imaginable.
Nevertheless, I think many of us struggle to grasp the first and greatest command from God to love Him with all our heart. I think that just like there are a thousand little ways your heart might be functioning somewhat less than 100% within its walls and chambers without your knowing it, such are the various ways the heart of our conscience and will is not completely right before God. And so, we are left trying to love God with all of a heart that is not all there and is not even aware of what might be the problem. There’s a lot of stuff going on in our hearts, and we’d be foolish to think that we keep it straight and prioritized all the time just the way God would have it. Our sin nature is simply not capable. Interests, passions, preferences, and predispositions make themselves known at every turn. And I think only heartfelt time with Jesus can get to the heart of the matter. If you want to be one after God’s own heart, do your heart some good and bring it to the Savior.
As we seek Him today, let your heart of hearts experience the work of the great physician.
Have a beautiful Monday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
