A
- PERFECTING OUR HEART – 1
When we think of our
heart just what do we mean? In the first
place we want to realize that the Scripture is not speaking of the “ticker” in
our chest. The heart of which the Bible
speaks has many aspects to it. As we
name some of these, our focus will be to explore our own hearts and determine
what changes we need to make to perfect our hearts.
Our heart contains our
thoughts. Prov.23:7 Our actions are promoted by our thoughts. We
will always be thinking of something. If
we think of something often enough, we cannot stop thinking of it. It is easy to become obsessed with a
thought. Try forgetting something and
see how difficult it is. Paul gives us a thorough filter for our
thoughts in Phil.4:8
Perhaps it would be time well spent if we think upon each one of
these separately.
The first is true. Eph.4:25 We lay aside falsehood and speak only the
truth. If we are to walk as children of
the Light (in Jesus), then truth must be part of our fruit. Eph.5:9 Truth is part of our Christian
armor. Eph.6:14 Not only do we
need to speak the truth but we need to study, support, and speak from God’s
Word which is Truth. 2 Tim.2:15
The second part of our
filter is honorable. Honest
is used in some versions as is venerable. The Greek word used indicates that which is
worthy of respect and value. Matt.15:8
Respect can be outward but not always with the heart. We need to be thinking of things worthy of
respect, value, and honor. Our minds should not dwell on things that are
flippant, cheap and of no value.
The third filter
through which we guide our thoughts is right
or just. We have a duty to God and to man. Our thinking is upon those who fulfill those
duties correctly and honestly as well as the need to look into our hearts to
see if we are doing the same. Our
thinking needs to be upright and innocent of evil. Prov.14:12
Pure
is
the next description for our thinking. Anything
pure is uncontaminated. Our thoughts
should not be clouded with things of the world.
Pure thoughts would not be morally corrupt. Jam.3:17 When something used in a ceremony was
pure, it could be brought into the presence of God. Could we sit down with Jesus and relay our
thoughts. (He knows what we are thinking
anyway.) Matt.5:8 Thoughts that are
pure are important to Jesus.
Lovely
in
the Greek means pleasing, agreeable. The
lovely calls forth love. This is the
only place this word is used in the N.T. To be lovely would have nothing
offensive associated with it. We could
think of something that would be beautiful in spirit.
Good
repute or good report
would be things that are fit for God to hear or see. What we hear and see induces our
thoughts. Admirable is a word that could
be inserted here. One example of the
importance of choosing one of good report would be in the case of choosing men
in Acts 6:3. In doing what is right, we may be able to
override criticism. 1 Pet.3:16; 1 Pet.2:12 Thus
our thinking remains right with a good conscience.
Excellence was known as
the very highest of “goodness” in that culture.
Our thinking should be of the very highest of moral excellence which was
all-embracing. The word, virtue, is used in some versions. We have the example of our Lord in 2 Pet.1:3,4. If we yield to our Lord, we can take part
in that excellence through the power granted by Jesus Christ.
Any praise in our
thinking must never come from wishing or expecting praise for self. The thoughts in our heart must be thoughts
that are worthy of praise—not of men first—but of our Lord. Many times we might be the object of praise
as our thoughts bring forth a godly life.
This must be accepted with great humility as we realize it is not from
us. 2
Cor.5:21 Any praise from man is
only extra. Our praise must come from
God. Rom.2:29; 1 Cor.4:5
As previously
mentioned, we are never without thought.
Our admonition is think on these
things. Some versions use the word, dwell.
In other words let these thoughts inhabit our lives. This will change us and change is a
choice. It has been said that faith is
centered in human thought. We need to
constantly assess our thoughts with the above filter. 1
Thess.5:21 When we find our
thoughts going astray, our objective is to flee and to abstain. 2
Tim.2:22; 1 Thess.5:22
As we think of
perfecting our hearts, let us realize that our thoughts are of utmost
importance. It is paramount that we
examine our thoughts and deal with any problem we might find. We have a wonderful promise in Jam.4:7.
We spoke of fleeing and abstaining.
Now we come to an important word, resisting. All of these take action on our part. We cannot be passive and think, “Oh,
well”. We must resist the devil as wrong
thoughts enter our mind. However, first,
we must submit to God. We don’t do this on our own. We have help from the Holy Spirit that is
within us if we are a Christian. 1 Jhn.4:4
That is our victory if we use
that power to resist, flee, and abstain.
We can have victory in Jesus! 1 Cor.15:57
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