The Heart Of All Things

The Heart of All Things

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8

We hear the term used a lot in reference to athletes: “He has a lot of heart.” It’s not only important to coaches, but also important to God. Just not in the way we think of it. It was the reason God wanted to replace Saul with David. It was the reason He called Moses to lead His people. It directed the fortunes of Joseph in Egypt. Esther was guided by it in all she faced. And for Jesus, it’s where everything begins.

The heart. It reflects to the world who we are—the inner character we display outwardly. It’s the quarterback of the soul, guiding the decisions we make and dictating what we choose to leave behind or take with us on the journey. Our heart sets the course of every day of our lives.

Jesus talked about the heart a lot. He told the religious leaders of His day that the prophet Isaiah had described them perfectly: they honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him (Matthew 15:8). Another time He was even harsher: “You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart” (Matthew 12:34-35).

In our relationships, the state of our hearts will reveal how we view those around us. Do we see people in terms of their roles and responsibilities, or do we deal with their hearts as special creations of God? Can we look past the externals and see them as they really are? Do we see the burdens of friendships or the blessings of friendships? Do we really believe that we and others were uniquely created by a God who loves us and walks with us?

The condition of our hearts will set the tone for all our relationships—including our relationship with God. It’s the lens we look through. Our perceptions of God and others are based more on ourselves and our expectations than on our hearts. No wonder Jesus said a prerequisite for seeing God is having a pure heart. And no wonder Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts above all else. In the Kingdom of God and in all our relationships, the heart matters.

Uncommon Key > Do you want to see God? Pursue what only He can give you: a pure heart.