Dear CBC Family,
Last Sunday I referred to the Great Commission, and highlighted the key phrase, “God therefore and make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…” (Matt. 28:14). Learning to live what Jesus commanded is the substance of discipleship. One of the most notable things He taught us is to live before God from the heart. (The “heart,” “soul,” “spirit,” and “inner man” are all synonyms in Scripture. It is the immaterial part of our person.)
This was in contrast to the very external righteousness of the Pharisees. The Pharisees approach to godliness was to add man-made laws on top of God’s Law – and superficially obey them (Matt. 6:2, 5, 7, 16). Jesus’ rebuked them for their hypocrisy. Matt. 23:27-28 For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
But He taught us that it is the internal things of the heart that either lead us to sin more, or to love God and others more. Matt. 15:18-20 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. “These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” Jesus claims that what we say, think, and do sinfully all come “out of the heart.” Likewise, righteous living starts in the heart. Matt. 22:36-37 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
Bear in mind that our hearts are never neutral. They are either loving God or loving idolatry and sin. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until their find their rest in thee.” David is soul is satisfied, he’s full of love for God, because of God’s great love (Psalm 63:3-5, 1 John 4:19). Our soul is at its best, and we are most satisfied, when we are full of love for God.
As disciples of Christ, we’re called to live “from the heart.” This means that God has transformed our hearts as reborn members of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:33, Ezek. 36:26, Acts 15:9). It means we address sin in our lives on a heart level (Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28). It means that our praying and seeking God is not just public, but private (Matt. 6:5-6). It means that we wisely watch over our hearts (Prov. 4:23).
Consider doing an inventory of your heart before God this week. Pray Psalm 139:23-24.
Thanks! See you Sunday…
Pastor Dave
– originally shared 7/21/2021
