GOD EXAMINES THE HEART
The heart is the central or innermost part of someone or anything. It is the core or part of any creature that is central to its existence or character. For human, it is where motives and intentions are processed and hoarded, or the place where feelings or emotions are sourced from. What goes on in the heart is not visible or obvious to the natural man out there, so it's not perceptibly detectable in the public world.
Reference: Luke 16:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT) 'The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. Then he said to them, "You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God."'
Our world values things very differently than God does. The Pharisees loved their money, and they tried to look good in public. They were honoured for their patent religious dedication by many with a worldly perspective. After all, they were outwardly religious and blessed. God who looks at the heart, however, knew that much of their wealth came from a covetous and greedy heart - their wealth was an abomination instead of a real blessing!
They usually scoffed at Jesus' words - not because His words were wrong, but because those words were right to the point of piercing and exposing the contents of hearts. And because they knew their hearts were not right, all they had to do to cover up their apparent insincerity was to ridicule Jesus and make His words, of no value.
When Samuel requested for Jesse's children to come for sacrifice, He saw Eliab and thought He was the right person to be anointed as King because of His looks, But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).
The natural man looks at the outward appearance. As long as its irresistible, appealing, charismatic, and enchanting, man will easily honour. But the Lord looks at the heart; for our God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything (see 1 John 3:20 NIV). That's the reason man can be easily deceived, but God cannot. What can you possibly hide from a God that created and knows everything? While others may not see beyond our human flesh and scan into our inner man, God is a heart-scan specialist.
As a Christian, always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's intelligence. That way, you won't run things like ordinary men or judge people from human perspective. Paul wrote, 'So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer' (2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV ). Paul got mature to the level where he ceased to judge any man by worldly standard.
No wonder he (St Paul) wrote earlier in 1 Corinthians 3:20-21(KJV), 'And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men.' In Christ, this should be your mentality. Do not respond to people and issues in your sphere of influence from the standpoint of natural impulses. Don't judge people by their appearance and worldly possession, rather be sensitive to the leading of God's Spirit always, in all your dealings with all men, so you can connect rightly, pleasing God at every count.
Scripture Reading - Proverbs 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 44:21.
Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for a wise mind, a pure heart, and a generous spirit as I serve you in Spirit and in truth, and as I engage with the world around me. Thank you for blessings you have placed in my care for good works. By your Spirit, my eyes are open to see the way you want me to use the blessings effectively for your Kingdom's work. I refuse to let nothing have a hold on my life other than my love for you, your Kingdom, and your righteousness, in Jesus' Name, Amen!
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