GOD SEES YOUR HEART’S MOTIVES!
GOD SEES YOUR HEART’S MOTIVES!
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. —I Samuel 15:23
Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” —I Samuel 16:7
The Lord Jesus did not entrust Himself to any man, nor did He need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person” (John 2:25). Man has the tendency to look on the outward appearance in making choices. This is seen easily with what man approves. Look at the wicked things he approves by outward appearances: movie stars, pornography, music stars, leadership at all levels, religious leaders, political personalities… These people may have major character flaws, but people gravitate toward them because of outward appearance and actions. What a huge mistake!
Our Lord does not look at people like this. No indeed, He looks at the heart of a man. He sees the “thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This is what really counts. A person may appear to others as being faithful by what he says or does, but the Lord can truly see that a person is rebellious and stubborn in the inward man.
A person may look to be truly serving the Lord by outward appearance, but their inward rebellion “is as sinful as witchcraft” and his inward “stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.” How many times have we seen Christian leaders looking like they are living godly lives and then we find out they were living ungodly lives. Well, man may be able to fool man, but he cannot fool God. God knows exactly what is going on in man at the deepest recesses of man’s mind. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).
I am so joyful that my sin has been forgiven and I will not be condemned because Jesus has taken that condemnation for me. But I am utterly sobered by the fact that I will give account to Him one day, knowing that my inward intents and thoughts or actions have not always honored Him. That is heart wrenching.
Yet I so look forward to glory where I will never fail Him again. Oh to be in the perfect place where everything of the heart will be perfect and everything will be perfect. Oh, I long for that day. I long for that place… even so come Lord Jesus.
Dear Father it is my desire to truly live faithfully for You. I look forward to the day I will do that perfectly. Until them may I truly seek to live faithfully for You now in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLX83HbefrI