February 3, 2019 -- Proverbs 3:1 -- Heart attitude
/My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments
Proverbs 3:1 ESV
In this chapter of Proverbs, it depicts a father instructing his son in the way of wisdom, the way of God. There is a tenderness in this, a father loves his son enough to teach him and be persistent in these lessons. If you read on, you’ll note that the entire section, 3:1-12 are the father’s instructions to his son concerning the way of wisdom and the benefits of following wisdom.
For our purposes, I wanted to note this important phrase: let your heart keep my commandments. Our hearts govern our attitude. You have no doubt seen a co-worker receive instructions from the boss. Maybe you have witnessed a scene where he nods politely, but as soon as he turns away, his eye-rolling is seen only by the watching co-workers. His heart’s bad attitude leaks out in his expression of contempt.
Our hearts determine the purposes for which we do or choose not to do this or that. Either our heart is committed to the way of the LORD, or our heart is committed to serving ourselves. Our hearts ultimately lead us to God or lead us away from Him.
Ezekiel 36:26 shows us the heart surgery which God performs: He removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. A heart that is softened and inclined to listen to Him and serve Him. Why should we bother with this? In Jesus Christ, God has become our Father. Those who remember the teaching of God and wholeheartedly live it prove themselves to be sons and daughters of God. Those who refuse His teaching prove themselves to be children of the devil and by their every heartbeat show their allegiance to evil.
Get to a bible-believing church this Sunday. Decide to go. Examine your heart and see if you are in need of the heart surgery which only God can perform. He has given us the greatest invitation ever: “come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”. Rest from the devil’s hounding. Rest from the insecurity of a stone heart.
Father in heaven, refresh our hearts in worship this day. Remind us of the great and glorious promises that are “yes” and “amen” in Jesus Christ. Move us greater acts of obedience and service in Your Name: the fruit of which is to show our love for and allegiance to You. Let Your Spirit continue to make Your teaching powerful to us and inspirational so that it is our heart’s desire to honour You in our words, our actions, and in the depths of who we are. Direct us to welcome newcomers to church and offer hearty blessing to those who hearing the Spirit’s call, have returned once again to their heart’s true home. Amen.
