See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
New International Version (NIV)
Have you ever seen a heart? How would you get a view? Technicians attach electrodes and run EKG strips to check our heart rhythm. Some years ago they did an ultrasound on my heart to see if it was a normal size, enlarged, or like the Grinch’s heart, one size too small. The writer of Hebrews authorizes us to check each other’s hearts to see if they are sinful and unbelieving, turning away from the living God. What is the danger? Sklerokardia. Our hearts could become hardened like stone.
What is the remedy for a sinful, unbelieving heart? Daily encouragement to turn back to God. As long as our hearts are still beating it is not too late for a heart transformation, from a heart of stone to a soft heart that beats with the rhythm of God’s love. We all need new hearts.
So what does a healthy heart look like? Like God’s heart, full of grace and truth and love for others. My cardiologist, Dr. Fang tells me my heart is ok. But it will take a brother or sister who meets with me regularly to know whether my heart is changing in ways that are not helpful. So if you are not too busy, would you mind checking my heart? I want it to be right. In exchange, I promise to encourage you as well, until our hearts become like the Father’s.
Pray with me:
Search us, God, and know our hearts. Test us and see if there is any wicked way in us. Remove our sinful hearts of stone. Replace them with new hearts that beat to the rhythm of your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I want to invite you to join me in memorizing 52 passages this year from the 2017 set of Fighter Verses. You can find the Fighter Verses App at the App Store on your phones or via this link http://fighterverses.com/the-verses/fighter-verses/. As we study the Bible this year, let's look at each text and learn what it says about God.
Joyfully,
Duane
Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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