Good Hearts

During the holiday season, it can be challenging to buy gifts that people really want or need. Although, most of us understand that it’s the thought that counts. In other words, a gift giver's heart is in the right place when they were choosing a gift to give.

God has given us a gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit, “the seal for the day of our redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). This beautiful gift helps us to tune into God’s heart, His will. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 2:11, “Who knows a person’s thoughts except for their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” Although God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9), we still have what we need.

Consider 2 Peter 1:3-8, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Lord says that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9), which means I need God’s Spirit to guide me towards making better decisions and acting in better ways. How does that guidance manifest itself? Our first response is probably “scripture.” While that’s true, it’s best when the scripture is presented by someone that cares enough about us to help us “get back on track” (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19- 20).

The Bible talks about the heart about 950 times, which means our heart must be right. It’s what God was looking for in every leader He ever chose. David prayed in Psalm 51:10-12, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

David’s prayer was a prayer of repentance for sins he had committed as a leader of God’s people. He knew he needed God’s holy spirit to guide him as a king (leader). David had succumbed to the world’s way of leadership (corruption, selfishness, greed, etc.), which Samuel had warned the Israelites would happen (1 Samuel 8:11-18). David had been appointed as a different kind of leader, so too are the leaders in the church called to a higher standard than that of the world (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1).

Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-27, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave…” It was within this same way of thinking that Paul instructs Timothy and Titus to appoint men with “good hearts.” Ultimately, he says “the goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5).