Michael Thompson, Scott SJ Jennings, Scott Stankavage, Jim Chenet
The heart is the core of us, a storage place, and a connection place.
Can the heart be wicked? Yes, it can be corrupt. John Wesley said the heart can be a corrupt spring. Would you drink some water that has only .5% arsenic in it? No way.
However, if Jesus is the center of your heart, then your heart has been transformed into a good heart. Can it be good and noble? Can it produce good fruit?
To have a life to the full, you need the right equipment.
Solomon’s Inauguration - I Kings 3:7-15 - What did Solomon ask for? Wisdom? No. Give your servant a discerning heart. God responds to him, “Because you have ask for discernment, I have given you a wise and discerning heart.” But even that doesn’t make Solomon 100% immune because later on his heart was led away.
The Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz declared his wish - “I’m going to ask him [the Wizard] for a heart. For with a heart you can love and be loved. And love is the greatest thing in the universe.” The Tin Man was service-based - chopping wood - but needed love.
Exploring these verses regarding the heart in Deuteronomy.
- 4:29 - Look for him with all your heart.
- 10:12 - Love God with all your heart.
- 11:13 - Serve him with all your heart.
- 13:3 - Love him with all your heart.
- 26:6 - Observe then the law with all your heart.
God wants all our hearts.
Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a pure heart. Could there be such a thing? Yes!
Michael shared about his experience being baptized and how the concept of cleanliness and holiness was made so real that day.
Get to the spiritual car wash as often as you can. A disciple of holiness.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” That means it is possible to have a pure heart!
This is the fruit of the pure heart - forgiveness, humility, grace, joy, peace - all the fruits of the Spirit.
Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. We put security systems on all kinds of things - the things that are most precious to us. Keep vigilant watch over your heart. Patrol your heart. Think of the headwaters of a nearby river - they must be protected.
