Don't bother looking- there is no "heart" key! As surely as I can say this, I am also sure that a few (and perhaps more than a few) will look anyway. And NO, THIS POST HAS NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH VALENTINE'S DAY! However, the heart is the subject of today's thoughts and therefore the picture is VERY IMPORTANT!! Jesus spoke a lot of parables and I like the following one because behind all the words, it asks the question: What is your heart like?
Luke, Chapter 6 (WEB)
39 He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye. 43 For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
Getting right with God will be invaluable in doing right to both God and your brother. Do yourself a favor; don't assume you're OK if you haven't thought about it lately. Sin is extremely deceitful and can creep into your life without you realizing it. So, be right and do right. And after all, isn't that the key to everything?
Excellent article Gary. So true. If we would just submit ourselves to God's word and see where it measures us, we would all be better off. It is a practiced and learned change of behavior that every Christian must be engaged in, daily, and with the help, prayers and encouragement of Godly brethren, we can do all these things in Christ, because He will strengthen us for the task.
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