Examining our Heart

Being God, Jesus was able to look upon people and knew their hearts perfectly, and He discerned their true motivation for what they said and did.  He saw through their facade of devotion and saw fickleness they would have denied if confronted.  What goes on in the hearts and minds of other people is usually unclear to us when we are at our most perceptive, and this can go for our own hearts as well.  Jesus asked a series of questions to prompt people to consider their motivation for going into the wilderness to see John in Matthew 11:7-9:  "As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet."

People did not tramp out to the wilderness to catch a glimpse of a reed blowing in the breeze or to see a man clothed in soft garments.  They went to see John because they believed he could be a prophet of God--some wondered if he was perhaps even the promised Messiah!  John was a righteous man marked by the fear of God, unmoved by the fear of man, a throwback to the prophet Elijah who was identified by his rough clothing.  While many people were convinced John was a prophet, heard him preach repentance from sin and were baptised by him, some religious rulers did not believe John was of God.  When they challenged Jesus concerning His authority to teach, Jesus countered with a question if John's baptism was of heaven or men.  This left them in a quandary as Luke 20:5-7 says:  "And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." ⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it was from."  A good question for those religious rulers to consider was, what did they go into the temple to see?  To worship and honour God?  To criticise or find fault with a Rabbi from Nazareth or to receive the Gospel taught by the Son of God?

It is a good practice for us to examine the motivations of our hearts concerning what we are looking for and why.  Eve drew near to the tree forbidden by God to gaze upon forbidden fruit, and Samson went into a vineyard presumably to look for grapes which were off the menu as a Nazarite from the womb.  They would have done well to ask themselves as they headed towards temptation to sin, "What am I looking for?"  We ought to say the same thing when we turn on the computer, pick up a phone, browse the internet or go to church.  There may be aisles in the local shops that present temptation for us, and it undermines our resolve and self-control to see if items we want to avoid are on special.  Today I saw an ad campaign to "Stop hunger," yet it struck me hunger is a natural and healthy bodily response in people who have well-stocked pantries.  The issue (spiritually speaking) is even after we are born again our flesh naturally longs for satisfaction through sin that will never satisfy.  Looking at the fruit did not scratch the rebellious itch Eve, Samson or we can have.

When we go to church or open our Bibles to read, we also can ask ourselves:  "What am I going to see?"  Are we going to hear the word of God preached, to hear the LORD speak to us that we might heed Him, to edify the Body of Christ through fellowship?  A pastor may go to church because it is his job, and another goes because he seeks to answer God's call to preach by obedience.  Do we serve God to make a name for ourselves or to exalt the name of Jesus Christ?  Do we invest ourselves in spiritual labours because we want to see people, our situations or the world change--or because we are being changed by God by the power of the Holy Spirit?  The LORD knows our hearts and knows well every wicked way in us, and by His grace God reveals our continuous need for repentance of sin, humility, meekness and to surrender ourselves to Him.  Since we believe the Bible is God's word and the church is the Body of Christ, we ought to follow the Holy Spirit's leading to obey God and love one another.