"Is Thy Heart Right With God?"
We sing a number of songs that teach the importance of the heart. One asks: "Have thine affections been nailed to the cross? Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss? Is thy heart right with God?" Another says: "Give me thy heart, says the Father above, no gift so precious to Him as our love, Softly He whispers wherever thou art. Gratefully trust me, and give me thy heart." Still another beseeches: "Purer in heart, O God, Help me to be; May I devote my life, Wholly to Thee; Watch Thou my wayward feet, Guide me with counsel sweet; Purer in Heart, Help me to be
All these songs are based upon Biblical principles. The wise writer said: "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus said: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure brings forth good things, and an evil man out the evil treasure brings forth evil things" (Matthew 12:34-35). Peter rebuked Ananias for allowing Satan to "fill his heart to lie the Holy Spirit," and asked "why have you conceived this thing in your heart" (Acts 5:3,4).
The heart can be "pricked (Acts 2:37) by hearing and understanding the truth. Having believed the truth, a man can "obey from the heart that form of teaching," and be made "free from sins" (Romans 6:17-18). The same heart can lose that faith. "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12)
Jesus said the "pure in heart" would "see God" (Matthew 5:8). Those who have been purified by obeying the truth are to "love one another fervently with a pure heart" (1 Peter 1:22). We cannot have a "pure heart" toward God unless we also have the same attitude toward our brethren (John 4:20-21).
"Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer" (Psalms 19:14).
All these songs are based upon Biblical principles. The wise writer said: "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus said: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure brings forth good things, and an evil man out the evil treasure brings forth evil things" (Matthew 12:34-35). Peter rebuked Ananias for allowing Satan to "fill his heart to lie the Holy Spirit," and asked "why have you conceived this thing in your heart" (Acts 5:3,4).
The heart can be "pricked (Acts 2:37) by hearing and understanding the truth. Having believed the truth, a man can "obey from the heart that form of teaching," and be made "free from sins" (Romans 6:17-18). The same heart can lose that faith. "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12)
Jesus said the "pure in heart" would "see God" (Matthew 5:8). Those who have been purified by obeying the truth are to "love one another fervently with a pure heart" (1 Peter 1:22). We cannot have a "pure heart" toward God unless we also have the same attitude toward our brethren (John 4:20-21).
"Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer" (Psalms 19:14).