"God Looks on our Heart"

     "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but

       according to His mercy he saved us.            ---Titus 3 :5

      Are you involved in various activities at your church with the mistaken purpose of ensuring your place in heaven? Those activities may be valuable as good deeds, but none of us can work our way into heaven. ( Heb.2:1-4 ). Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip. Verse 2 for if the word," spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; verse 3 "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirm unto us by them that heard him. Verse 4 "God also bearing them witness, both with sign and wonders,  and with divers miracles, and gift of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? "But God's look on our heart." The receptive of your heart will determine your response to God's (Luke 8:5-18). If your heart is like the trampled ground, hardened by the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness, you be unable to accept a message from God. Though you hear the words of the message, you will remain unchanged. If your heart is like the shallow soil on top of a rock, you will accept God's Word in your mind, but the truth will not penetrate your to make a difference in your action. A heart like thorny soil is a life that is distracted by the care of the world: the pursuit of earthly pleasures prevents God's Word from taking hold and producing righteousness. The heart that is like good soil receives a word from God, applies it and brings forth fruit in due time. This is the heart that Jesus desires in us, for the fruit will be a christlike life.

      In the early days of the church, the new believers fellowshipped and prayed together. They loved God and their outflow of devotion to Him was expressed in their love for one another. Sadly, that initial passion faded in time and was replaced by effort. Throughout history, many "good deeds" have been done with a desire to please God, but that doesn't always ensure that He is genuinely pleased with such effort! Let us Meditate on God's Word until it enters deep into your heart and not just your mind. When you read or hear a word from God, apply it to your life and let God bring His word into reality in your life ( Gal. 6:9 ). Protect your lifestyle. See that you don't devote all of your energy to wordly concerns, rather than to pursuing your relationship with God. The condition of your heart will vary, depending on how you cultivate it.

      The Scriptures teach us that God looks on our heart, and He loves to see us glowing with passion for His work, His will and His people. Do you sometimes struggles with doing more rather than loving God more? The Lord looks at the motives of the heart, not the sweat of the brow. Serve the Lord because you love Him, not because of what you might earn. If it was receptive to a word from God yesterday, this does not guarantee it is receptive today. Daily prepare your heart for the word God has for you!