Carina Francke

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Yesterday we learned that robbers want to steal those things that empowers you to create a home. Amongst other things they steal your peace, but they especially target your heart.

The Vines dictionary explains the heart as the "chief organ of physical life, but by an easy transition the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements."  In other words, the heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal life; it determines how you live.

Jesus explains in vivid manner exactly what is meant when the Proverbs author advises the reader to guard his heart; the contents of man's heart determines his thinking and his way of living.

In Matthew 15 He firstly addresses traditions and laws that are being kept at the expense of obedience to God's commandments. Man-made moral laws or rituals create artificial boundaries that are unable to change people's hearts.  After all, evil has its origin in the heart and expresses itself in things like evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and other things alike. Laws and tradition do not have the power to keep man's heart clean!  It is only one's active relationship with God and one's obedience to the Holy Spirit's promptings that can keep one's heart clean.

Jesus also taught the people that self-righteousnessis a potential thief that can steal your heart away; it has the ability to turn you into a hypocrite - someone struck by blindness to his own shortcomings.“Or how can you say to your brother, "Brother, allow me to take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye?"  No, He wants you to start with yourself - do a little heart and soul-searching - and then remove the evils from your own heart. Only then dare you speak to other people regarding their small transgressions. (Luke 6:42)

You should understand that if the above-mentioned attitudes take root in your heart, it supplants the fruit that the Spirit ought to produce in your heart. Whether we like it or not, the tree (you and I) is being recognized by its fruit. If the heart is guarded for only good to take root in it, it can only produce good fruit. But the opposite is also true: evil steals, no, destroys the good fruit that creates your heart into His home.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, my heart should only bear good fruit, therefor I want to do what Jude 20-24 advises: I want to pray in the Spirit and keep myself in the love of God. I know You are able to keep me from falling and to present me faultless before the presence of His glory, Amen.