The Human Heart

The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I know! I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart, with all its deceitful and wicked workings--is incessantly under Divine inspection and examination! The Lord searches the heart--He traces and investigates, the inmost principles of our souls and their motives, with the utmost exactness!

To form a more just idea of this scrutiny, let us ask ourselves how we could bear to be compelled to declare aloud, in full company--every thought, wish and desire which pass through our minds--with no exception! People, if they were brought to this trial, would rather choose to die than comply with it!

If every man was compelled to speak all that he thinks--there would be an end of human society; and man would no more venture to dwell with man, than with tigers and bears!

We know what mischief one ungoverned tongue may sometimes occasion. But the tongue can do no evil, any farther than as it is an instrument of disclosing the hidden things of the heart--yet it is but a small part of these, that the worst tongue is capable of disclosing! What then would be the case, if all our hearts were open--and all our evil thoughts, motives and desires known to one another! What a mixture of confusion, defiance, shame, rage, fear, and contempt--would overspread every countenance!

And yet, we are thus exposed to the searching eye of a pure and holy God! The Lord knows the thoughts of man's heart, that they are vain. He long ago declared the result of His examination, "God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth; and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually!" Thus, we see how vile and hateful our hearts must appear--in the sight of a heart-searching God!

And consider that the Lord does not observe the heart of man with the indifference of a mere spectator--but as an impartial and inflexible Judge! "I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve!" Alas! Is it not sufficient to fill our souls with dread--that He sits as Judge, not only upon outward actions, but He examines the very thoughts and intents of the heart! Can any of us stand under such a trial?

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account!" Hebrews 4:13

This is a most uncomfortable doctrine indeed--were there no remedy provided! "The blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin!" 1 John 1:7

Is this your religion?

Is this your religion?

(John Angell James, "Christian Love")

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith
that can move mountains, but have not love,
I am nothing!" 1 Corinthians 13:2

LOVE is a grace which many professing Christians
think far too little about; but it is of infinite value
in the eyes of God. Love is the most characteristic
feature of Christ's image in a renewed man. Love is
the most precious fruit of grace; and yet the fruit
which too many of His professed followers seem to
think themselves hardly under any obligation to
cultivate.

Christian love is that benevolent disposition
or kindness, which consists in good-will to all
creatures, and which leads us, as we have
opportunity, to promote their happiness.

The apostle has given us a description of the
exercises of this noble and god-like principle.

"Love is patient" and forbearing under injuries
and annoyances--and does not revile, revenge,
or retaliate.

"Love is kind," not harsh or crude--but ever ready,
willing, and pleased by looks, words, and actions,
to promote the comfort of others.

"Love does not envy." It does not pine and grieve
at the sight of another's superior possessions, fame,
happiness, or piety--and dislike him on that account.

"Love does not boast. Love is not proud." It neither
boasts its own gifts, achievements, and possessions,
nor despises others, nor makes insulting comparisons
--but is humble and gentle.

"Love does not behave unseemly." It modestly keeps
its place, and does nothing to offend by what is
unfitting its rank, station, or circumstances.

"Love seeks not her own." It does not selfishly want
to have its own way, or promote its own interest--to
the neglect of others.

"Love is not easily provoked." It governs its temper,
controls its passions, and is not soon or unreasonably
irritable or petulant.

"Love thinks no evil." It is not censorious, nor forward
to impute a bad motive to a doubtful action--but is
disposed to put the best construction on the actions
and words of others.

"Love rejoices not in iniquity--but rejoices in the truth."
It does not delight in the sins--but in the excellences
of an opponent.

"Love bears (or covers) all things." It does not divulge,
proclaim, aggravate faults--but hides them as far as it
can, and it is right to do so.

"Love believes all things," that are to the advantage
of another.

"Love hopes all things," where there is not sufficient
evidence to authorize belief.

"Love endures all things," bears hardships, sustains
labor, makes sacrifices--in order to accomplish its
purposes of good-will.

Such is love in exercise and act. This is benevolence
--this is a regard to the happiness of others. Whoever
acts thus, must promote happiness. He must bless all
around him. All things smile in his presence.

Beautiful description! Heavenly temper! Godlike mind!

Now, dear friends, look at love! Gaze upon . . .
its lovely form,
its beautiful countenance,
its graceful actings.

Observe its seraphic glow, its divine temper, until you
are all enamored with its charms. But look at it not only
as something to be admired--but to be possessed and
practiced. Unless this is your temperament, you are not
Christians. I do not say you cannot be Christians unless
you have love in perfection. But you must have the
principle of love, and must be living in its exercise. You
are Christians no further than you live under its influence.


No matter what knowledge you may have of the doctrines
of the gospel; what seeming faith you may possess; what
zeal you may manifest; what liberality you may exercise;
what regularity, and punctuality in attendance upon the
means of grace, you may maintain--if love is lacking, all
this is of no avail.


Nothing can be a substitute for love.


Christianity is love . . .
not a slavish attendance on ceremonies;
not receiving the sacraments;
not zeal for orthodoxy;
not a form of church government;
not belonging to any particular church.

God's eternal thoughts and purposes in election,
Christ's redeeming work upon the cross,
the Spirit's omnipotent agency in regeneration,
are not merely to bring us under a particular
ecclesiastical regimen--but to deliver us from
the dominion of selfishness, and place us under
the reign of love--and thus make us like God!

If an individual is destitute of love, he has no
saving religion. He may be zealous for the forms
of Christianity, but he is destitute of its living spirit.

And now, my dear friends, let me entreat you to
examine yourselves concerning this great essential
of the Christian character. Are you experimentally
acquainted with this disposition? Is this your
religion? Is your temperament thus molded? Is
that one word 'love' characteristic of your spirit?
Has God's love to you, changed you into its own
likeness? Do you know what it is to have pride,
passion, envy, malice, selfishness--subdued,
repressed, resisted--by a meek, gentle, lowly,
forgiving, forbearing, generous, self-denying
temper? Are the harshness, hardness, asperity
of the fallen nature, displaced by the softness,
sweetness, and kindness of true love?

earthly toys/terrenales juguetes

Earthly toys(Henry Law)"How long will you love what is worthless?" Psalm 4:2

The hearts of the wicked delight in this world's empty baubles. They greedily pursue a mocking shadow. What folly can be worse!When things are seen as they really are, earthly toys are worse than empty bubbles.What will all the earth, and all the earth'streasures, and all the earth's pleasures profit—if our souls are not saved!

"How long will you love what is worthless?" Psalm 4:2

2Hijos de hombres, ¿hasta cuándo cambiaréis mi honra en deshonra? ¿Hasta cuándo amaréis la vanidad y buscaréis la mentira? (Selah) Salmos 4:2

Los corazones de los impíos alegría en este mundo de bolas de vacío. Ellos greedily aplicar una

te

sombra burlona. ¿Qué puede ser peor locura! Cuando las cosas se ven como realmente son,terrenales juguetes son peores que bubbles.Que se vacía toda la tierra, y todos los , y toda la tierra de Lo tesoros de la Tierraos placeres de beneficio-si nuestras almas no se salva!

2Hijos de hombres, ¿hasta cuándo cambiaréis mi honra en deshonra? ¿Hasta cuándo amaréis la vanidad y buscaréis la mentira? (Selah) Salmos 4:2

WWJD

WWJD?(C. H. Spurgeon, "The Fair Portrait of a Saint" 1880)"My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside." Job 23:11A very beautiful motto is hung up in our infant classroom at the Stockwell Orphanage, "What would Jesus do?" Not only may children take it as their guide, but all of us may do the same, whatever our age. "What would Jesus do?"If you desire to know what you ought to do underany circumstances, imagine Jesus to be in that position and then think, "What would Jesus do?for what Jesus would do, that ought I to do."That unties the knot of all moral difficulty in the most practical way, and does it so simply that no great wit or wisdom will be needed.
"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15"Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21"Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6

reason to reach out to poor

Have you noticed that God doesn't ask you to prove that you will put your salary to good use? Have you noticed that God doesn't turn off your oxygen supply when you misuse His gifts? Aren't you glad that God doesn't give you only that which you remember to thank him for?
God's goodness is spurred by His nature, not by our worthiness.
Someone asked an associate of mine, 'What biblical precedent do we have to help the poor who have no desire to become Christians?'
My friend responded with one word, 'God.'
God does it daily, for millions of people.

- Max Lucado in Grace For the Moment

little pramatists in our hearts

Truth is truth, and error, error, and that which is unlawful is unlawful, whether men think so or no. God hath put an eternal difference betwixt light and darkness, good and ill, which no creature’s conceit can alter, and therefore no man’s judgement is measure of things further than it agrees to truth stamped upon things themselves by God.
..................................... -Richard Sibbes (1577-1635)

something we should take to heart sometimes we are pragmatists with the attitude "hey it is working--so God must be blessing it!!!

something we christains need to remember

Then you will be thankful(Thomas Watson, "The Godly Man'sPicture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil)If you wish to be thankful, get a heart deeply humbled with the sense of your own vileness. A broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth God's praise. He who studies his sins, wonders that he has anything, and that God should shine on such a dunghill: "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man--but I was shown mercy!" (1 Timothy 1:13). How thankful Paul was! How he trumpeted forth free grace! A proud man will never be thankful. He looks on all his mercies as either of his own procuring or deserving. If he has an estate, this he got by his wits and industry; not considering that scripture, "Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you power to become rich" (Dt. 8:18). Pride stops the current of gratitude. O Christian, think of your unworthiness; see yourself as the least of saints, and the chief of sinners--and then you will be thankful.

The Schemer's Plans by m.clark

I came across this post may it bless us all:

For Wednesday, August 8, 2007Proverbs 24:8-9Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer.The devising of folly is sin,and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

Wickedness is wickedness however it is carried out. But as the law affirms, it is especially repugnant to devise wickedness. Some people "fall" into sin, yielding against their better judgment. But the schemer plans his evil. He uses his ability to reason for the express purpose of causing mischief.Consider the drug dealer who uses business acumen to run an elaborate, sophisticated business complex. Consider the thief who studies how to carry out a crime with the same meticulous attentiveness as any scholar. There is the businessman who out of greed and ambition uses his talent and expertise to manipulate the system and gain undue advantage over others.There is a sadness about such persons. For one considers not only the crimes committed, but the good that goes undone that these persons were capable of. What if such schemers used their abilities for good? What all could be done? How much good goes undone?And then there is the scoffer who is an abomination. Again, the problem is not merely that he ridicules, but that he uses his mental skills to mock rather than for productive good. Scoffing is the lazy man's use of mental wit. Unlike the schemer who turns to wickedness out of ambition, the scoffer turns to destructive ridicule out of lack of ambition. Both live wasted lives.What are your plans today? To advance your own cause or the cause of Christ? To shoot down the efforts of others or build others up? It is not good to know the plans of your Lord today for you? Whatever exactly they may be, they are for your good.

tomas watson on sin

Another subtlety is to draw men to evil, sub specie boni, under a pretence of good. -- The pirate doeth mischief by hanging out false colors; so does Satan by hanging out the colors of religion. He puts some men upon sinful actions, and persuades them much good will come of it. He tells them in some cases that they may dispense with the rule of the Word, and stretch their conscience beyond that line, that they may be in a capacity of doing more service. As if God needed our sin to raise his glory." -Thomas Watson