JUST THINKING: How About Your Heart?
I was raised listening to Southern gospel music and was just thinking about a song I heard in 1954 by the Blackwood Brothers Quartet. The lyrics include: “Friend, how would you feel if your heart were made with a window on each side? So that all could see, not just outward charm, but detect if inward harm.” That is quite a situation to ponder. Truthfully, what people often see about us outwardly is not what God sees in us inwardly.
Facing the Facts
Our cities, states, country and world all need to recognize the maladies that reside in the hearts of people from every walk of life. The responsibilities of believers are the same today as when Jesus first gathered His church. We are to be salt and light to a people walking in darkness. Condoning the lifestyles of the world is a hindrance to showing those who are lost in their sins the way to everlasting life.
We, as believers, must be steadfast in our faith and stalwart in our testimonies before those who need Christ as Savior. Paul wrote, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2 NIV1984).
The Hole Only God Can Fill
This is not about politics. This is about the sad state of affairs in our country. Christians are under scrutiny at every turn. People seek both the bad and the good from those who follow Christ. Sadly, many are, on the one hand, saying one thing but, on the other hand, are not doing what Christ commanded. Be certain of this — the lost are paying attention to our shortcomings!
A relatively new song in gospel music says, “There’s a hole in the heart of America that only God can fill!” Friends, when believers get our hearts right, we will not just talk the talk but walk the walk. From the beginning of our nation, believers have impacted their communities. When settlers moved westward, the first building erected in their new towns was a house of worship. Revival fires burned across the land. People gave their lives to the Lord, and America was built with blood, sweat, tears and faith.
Yet today, after two centuries, we are seeing that faith dwindle. May we pray that God will fill the hole in our country’s heart through His forgiving grace.
Serve the Lord with All Your Heart
Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was. “Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). That establishes our upward relationship with Him. But we are also responsible for our outward relationships. Jesus added, “And the second is like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matt. 22:38).
Here is a biblical admonition which is important: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have; But do this with gentleness and respect” (I Peter 3:15).
Some more lyrics to the song I previously referred to say, “People often see you as you are outside; Jesus really knows you for He sees inside. How about your heart? Is it right with God? That’s the thing that counts today!”
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Dr. Tom Mitchell
Dr. Tom Mitchell pens a column titled, Just Thinking, in which he addresses many topics relative to the Baptist Missionary Association. His Trailblazers series provides biographies of many BMA trailblazers from the past.
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