A Tender Heart: By James Lantz
A tender heart is sensitive to the things God likes and compassionate to the needs of others. It is soft and willing to bend to the will of the Father and those who have authority over us. The redeemed of the Lord are commanded to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just like God has forgiven us for Christ’s sake. God looks at the heart of men because it is with the heart that men believe and purpose to do His will! God referred to David as a man after His own heart because He did everything God wanted. Acts 13:22 . . . he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Josiah became King over Judah and Jerusalem when he was only eight years old and at the age of sixteen he began to seek after the God of David his father. 2 Kings 23:25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. Josiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, walking in the ways of his father David, not turning to the left or the right. At the age of twenty he began to purge Judah of idolatry and turn God’s people to worship the God of heaven. Hilkiah, the priest, upon finding a copy of the book of the law in the house of the Lord, sent it to king Josiah to read. When he read of the wrath that was coming because their fathers had not kept the word of the Lord, Josiah sought for a word from God through Huldah the prophetess. 2 Chron. 34:23-28 And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched. And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy
Because Your Heart Was Tender And You Humbled Yourself Before Me . . .
clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
The only entrance into the kingdom of God is to simply believe the word of God as a little child would believe those who love him. Little children are not full of reasonings as to why it can’t be so but are quick to trust and easily led by those who care for them. Children’s hearts are tender and easily impressionable! This must be why Jesus warned of severe judgement for those who would cause his little ones to quit believing. Luke 17:1&2 . . . It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. We have little ones in the body of Christ that this truth applies to as well. A father in the faith tells the account of how one of God’s little ones was supernaturally delivered from alcoholism and totally set free by the power of God. As time goes on she sees a minister drinking alcohol at an event and she decides that if he can drink a little so can she. She fell back into alcoholism and twenty years later she was still bound by alcohol. When our hearts are tender towards God and His word we will avoid the very appearance of evil. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. Strong drink is not for kings and priests and we who are in Christ have been made kings and priests unto our God. Rev. 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
King David referred to his son Solomon as being young and tender when he seated him as King of Israel! King David and Bathsheba had taught Solomon to love God and to follow His precepts as they groomed him to be the next king. As a young king, Solomon loved God and offered a thousand burnt offerings on the brasen altar before the Lord causing the Lord to appear to him in the night, saying, ask what I shall give you. Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. As the years went by the Lord became angry with Solomon because he gave his love to worshipping idols with his idolatrous wives. 1 Kings 11:9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, This is not a case of an innocent little child being led astray but rather a man who chose the desires of his flesh over obeying what God said. Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
All through the scriptures we see examples of those who yielded to the will of God through a soft and tender heart and those who resisted the will of God with varying degrees of hardness of heart. Able brought God his first and best while Cain took the first and best for himself. The virgin Mary was quick to say, I’m your girl, let it be just like you said! Zacharias, on the other hand, provoked the angel Gabriel, and said, how can I be sure of what you are telling me because my wife and I are old. When Jesus came to Martha’s house, Mary sat at his feet not willing to miss a single word while Martha was distracted by much serving. Lk. 10:41&42 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Peter wept bitterly after denying the Lord but he humbled himself and turned back to serve the Lord for the rest of his days. Judas acknowledged he had sinned but chose to kill himself rather than truly repent and turn back to serve the Lord.
The good news is that none of us have to settle for our prayers being unanswered and our lives unfulfilled. The prophets spoke of breaking up your fallow ground which is hearing and doing the word of God. This is a choice that we make to feed on God’s word until our faith becomes strong and we then arise and put sin away. God wants everyone to be freed from depression, idolatry, fornication, sickness, poverty, and every evil thing. Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ezra changed a nation by teaching them God’s word! Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Jesus identifies the areas where satan can steal the word of God out of man’s heart which will cause him to go without the reward that God has for him. The hardest of hearts does not recognize God’s Word nor His voice. Those who are not grounded in God’s word quickly throw in the towel when they experience trouble or persecution. Others allow what God said to be choked out by the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the lust of other things. But those whose heart is good (righteous & tender) and honest who have heard what God said will do it and will bring forth fruit through persistence and continuing in what God said! ( Heb. 4:12 Mt. 13 Mark 4 Luke 8 )
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
