[Biblemat] S) "SUCH A HEART"

Wed Jan 3 06:09:43 CST 2007

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

"SUCH A HEART"

     "Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would
fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might
be well with them, and with their children for ever" (Deut. 5:
29).

     In Deuteronomy 5, Moses reminded Israel of their initial
attitude to be faithful when they were given God's Law at Mt.
Sinai (vss. 15-27).  Though they started well, their subseq-
uent actions revealed they had wicked hearts.  Then in vs. 29
we see what God requires of His people, and how faithful ser-
vice is propagated to future generations.

     The "heart" spoken of in the passage isn't man's physical
blood pump, but describes the core of his very being -- the
inward man comprised of will, intellect and emotion.  One's
heart, therefore, defines who his is: "For as a man thinketh
in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7).  Consider the verse closely
and understand that "such a heart" as pleases Him will accom-
plish four things in our lives.

     1. Reverence: -- "they would fear Me."  A.W. Tozer said,
"what comes into our minds when we think about God is the
most important thing about us."  It's true.  Reverent hearts
are born out of a spirit of humility because of one's own weak-
ness and sin: "The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wis-
dom; and before honor goeth humility" (Prov. 15:33).  There-
fore, such a heart will acknowledge God's majesty and power,
offering service "with reverence and awe" (Heb. 12:28).  It
will be receptive to divine guidance; "the foolish despise wis-
dom and instruction" (Prov. 1:7).  It will, as a result, depart
from evil (Prov. 16:6).  Do you have a reverent heart?

     2. Obedience: -- "Keep all My commandments."  God has
always placed a great premium on man's obedience.  Those
who are saved by Jesus' blood, to whom He become the "Aut-
hor of eternal salvation," are those who "obey Him" (Heb. 5:8,
9).  Likewise, the apostle Peter affirms God's pleasure and
blessings are upon the "children of obedience" -- "ye have
purified your souls in your obedience to the truth" (1 Pet. 1:
22).  Paul gave thanks for Roman Christians who were "obed-
ient from the heart to the form of doctrine whereunto ye were
delivered" (Rom. 6:17).  Such a heart that obeys is the recipie-
nt of God's blessings.  To the contrary, God's eternal venge-
ance will be toward "those who obey not the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 1:8).  Paul made no distinction be-
tween those identified as "children of wrath" with they who
are "sons of disobedience" (Eph. 4:2,3).   They are the same.
Do you have an obedient heart?

     3. Steadfastness: -- "Always."  Such a heart to please God
knows that more is involved than just a good start in the
Christian race -- we must "run with patience...looking unto
Jesus" (Heb. 12:1,2).  This necessitates heeding the admon-
ition to "not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we 
faint not" (Gal. 6:9).  Such a heart will be dili-
gent to take advantage of every opportunity to do good (vs.
10), always praying (Lk. 18:1), "handling aright the word of
truth" (2 Tim. 2:15), and in every divinely ascribed way exer-
cising oneself unto godliness (2 Tim. 4:7,8).  Such devotion
in the midst of trials will serve to prove the genuiness of our
faith and render greater spiritual strength in the days ahead
(Jas. 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:5-7).  One is never justified in casting
away his boldness in faithful duty, even if it requires his life
(Heb. 10:35-39; Rev. 2:10).  Do you have a steadfast heart?

     4. Teaching: -- "That it might be well...with their children
forever."  Such a heart will feel obligtion in service toward
others understanding that pure and undefiled religion deman-
ds it (Jas. 1:27).  While this service may involve temporal
assistance, its greatest obligation will be spiritual in nature.
All have sinned (Rom. 3:23), and sin separates one from God
(Rom. 6:23; Isa. 59:1,2).  With that understanding, one's great-
est obligation to mankind will be to teach them of Christ and
His Way so they might be saved (Rom. 1:16).  Our scope of
service will involve all we have opportunity to help (Gal. 6:10),
but one has no greater duty than toward his family.  Contrary
to popular belief, the greatest thing I can leave my kids is not
my money, but my faith!  Ancient Israel was instructed to 
faithfully teach their children (Deut. 6:4-9), so are New Testa-
ment Christians (Eph. 6:4).  It is impossible, however, if you
have not first given your own heart to God.  And understand
this one thing: you cannot fake it.  Do you have a teaching
heart?

     Like Joshua of old, our rally cry will be, "as for me and my
house, we will serve Jehovah."  The spirituality of your child-
ren and grandchildren may very well depend on whether you
have such a heart to serve God with reverence, obedience,
and steadfastness -- and to teach them to embrace the same.
----------- Dan Richardson in Biblical Insights, Vol. 6, No. 8, 
Aug. 2006. 
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