OCTOBER 4
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues
of life (Proverbs 4:23).
A lady who had been mistreated by her husband, said: "He's mean but he has a good
heart." Her pastor corrected her. "No," he said, "he has a bad heart."
The pastor was right. Our actions reveal what is in our heart. Jesus said: "...out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the
heart bringethforth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringethforth
evil things" (Matthew 12:34-35).
The human heart has immense potential for evil: "The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Salvation is the result of believing in one's heart: "That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10.9-10).
One who has been born again must be careful to keep his heart right. Sin must be
confessed. Forgiveness of others must be his continual experience. The Psalmist
prayed well: "Let the words ofmy mouth, and the meditation ofmy heart, be acceptable
in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).
How can we keep our hearts right? Here's the answer: "With my whole heart have I
sought thee: O Let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in
mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. " (Psalm 119:10-11).
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