Our Hearts

How much of our hearts do we put into becoming a follower of Christ? From the very first step until our very last one, God is wanting our “hearts” to be part of it (Psalms 37:4; Romans 5:5; John 14:27).

When someone hears the Gospel and is pricked to the heart and realizes the need to be saved from sinfulness, there begins a process of tuning our hearts to God’s heart. Therefore, the “why” questions and even the “how” questions become important in our change.

Although we would like to think that the “hows” are explained well enough in Scripture that there isn’t confusion, we know that there are numerous groups that emphasize one aspect of obedience to Christ over another. Our faith that Jesus is the son of God is important, our admitting our own sinful human nature is important, our humbling ourselves and turning completely to God for rescuing is important, and our being baptized for the forgiveness of sins is important. It would be nice if everyone recognized these as important to following Christ.

However, equally important is the life we choose to live after we make that decision. God wants our hearts to be changed (Matthew 22:37-39; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 23:26; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:7 and many others). To do that, we have to “die to ourselves daily” (Luke 9:23), and be patient during the process. But just because it may be a longer or more difficult process to adhere to Christlikeness for some more than others, it still has to be our “heart’s desire,” just as Jesus said in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

In Acts 8:9-25, we read of a convert who had a challenging past – a sorcerer named Simon. He heard the words of Philip and believed the good news of the kingdom of God and was baptized. But when Peter and John came down teach and lay hands on people, Simon’s heart was enticed to his old ways of living. He said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

But Peter’s answer helps us see how God wants us to respond to His generous gift of life. Peter said, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that He may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Compare to Matthew 6:21; 1 Timothy 6:10.)

Simon begged for help at that point. He needed to stop thinking according to his old way of life – no matter how recent those “old days” were for him. This sets the urgency for all of us that to choose to follow Christ requires a change in our thinking, which ultimately changes our hearts.

God can use anyone, but we have to be willing to be molded and shaped into a spiritual person who thinks like God. But our hearts make all the difference; it’s what He’s been after from the beginning. Joel 2:13, “Rend (tear/humble) your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”