Weekly Newsletter
Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
People tend to be careless, or foolish, with their hearts. We can either give our hearts to wrong things, or fail to guard or guide our hearts at all – in either case, we are sure to reap the consequences of not having a right heart before God. Over the last couple weeks, we’ve examined J.C. Ryle’s “Seven Marks of a Right Heart Before God” (from his book, Old Paths). As you finish this list, let me again encourage you to prayerfully examine your heart in light of Scripture; using these Biblical references as the foundation of your study.
May our hearts always be filled with and guided by God, for His glory and our good.
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #45):
Deuteronomy 10-12; 2Chronicles 33-36; Psalm 128-130; Ecclesiastes 5-6; Haggai; Acts 13-14; 1Peter 1-3
Recommended Reading:
“Surrender: The Heart that God Controls” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
People tend to be careless, or foolish, with their hearts. We can either give our hearts to wrong things, or fail to guard or guide our hearts at all – in either case, we are sure to reap the consequences of not having a right heart before God. Over the last couple weeks, we’ve examined J.C. Ryle’s “Seven Marks of a Right Heart Before God” (from his book, Old Paths). As you finish this list, let me again encourage you to prayerfully examine your heart in light of Scripture; using these Biblical references as the foundation of your study.
1) A right heart is a new heart.
2) A right heart is a broken and contrite heart.
3) A right heart is a heart which believes on Christ alone for salvation, and in which Christ dwells by faith.
4) A right heart is a purified heart.
5) A right heart is a praying heart.
6) A right heart is a heart that feels conflict within it (Gal. 5:17). It finds within itself two opposing principles contending for the mastery – the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. It knows by experience what Paul means when he says, “I see a law in my members warring against the law of my mind” (Rom. 7:23). The wrong heart knows nothing of this strife. The strong man keeps the wrong heart as their palace, and their goods are at peace (Lk. 11:21). But when the rightful King takes possession of the heart, a struggle begins which never ends until death. The right heart may be known by its warfare, quite as much as by its peace.
7) A right heart is honest, undivided, and true (Lk. 8:15; 1 Chron. 12:33; Heb. 10:22). There is nothing about it of falsehood, hypocrisy, or image-acting. It is not double or divided. It really is what it professes to be, feels what it professes to feel, and believes what it professes to believe. Its faith may be feeble. Its obedience may be very imperfect. But one thing will always distinguish the right heart. Its religion will be real, genuine, thorough, and sincere.
Scripture reveals a heart that is not right with God is defiled, hardened, rebellious, deceived, foolish, divided and/or carnal. Those who truly belong to God have a heart for God, a heart that has been renewed and redeemed by God (see Ezek. 36:25-27). And those who truly have a heart for God, will seek to live in such a way that pleases and praises God. Jesus said, “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Lk. 6:43-45; cf. 2 Tim. 2:22).May our hearts always be filled with and guided by God, for His glory and our good.
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #45):
Deuteronomy 10-12; 2Chronicles 33-36; Psalm 128-130; Ecclesiastes 5-6; Haggai; Acts 13-14; 1Peter 1-3
Recommended Reading:
“Surrender: The Heart that God Controls” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
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1 Comment
THANK YOU for this reminder. I took notes on the day of this sermon, but I like reading your notes as well.
Maddy