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Why the Heart is Important

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Some men are men of action. Some men follow intellectual pursuits. Some men are good at relating. For some, they have to work at it more. But, whatever your actions and skill sets are, whatever your training and education may be, there is one thing more important that God focuses on, and that’s your heart.

 

In choosing David to become king over Israel, God said;

The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, 1 Samuel 13:14

Why was the character of David’s heart the determining factor for God’s decision? It’s because, our attitudes and actions spring from our hearts. The Proverbs teach us;

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

The attitude of your heart will be the major influence on your relationships with God and people, and how your life turns out. It is no wonder then that Moses instructed the people to be diligent in regard to their hearts.

Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and grandsons. Deuteronomy 4:9

And, Jesus said our obedience comes from the heart.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:15

Hence Jesus also said;

 “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Conversely, the apostle Paul exhorted men to not walk in the futility of their own thinking and a hard heart.

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles (unbelievers) also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. Ephesians 4:17-19

Thus, we find that our ability to see God and to live out obedience to Christ all flow from a heart that is in tune with God’s own heart.

 

Starting in October, the Men’s Connection is encouraging the men of the church to read the book, A Man After God’s Own Heart by Jim George. You can read it on your own or join a discussion group that will be forming. Contact the church for more information.

 

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation - www.lockman.org

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