A Perfect Heart! By James L Lantz
The scripture refers to King David’s heart as being perfect with the Lord compared to Solomon’s, who moved into idolatry, in his latter years. 1 Kings 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. This word perfect means complete or we might say all in. The first commandment establishes that God requires us to love Him with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and with all our strength. God didn’t hide David’s sin from us but He fully forgave David and counted his heart perfect, complete, all in, going forward. David’s repentance was obviously very genuine seeing that he never did it again, Paul writes of his faithfulness, and the promise of the throne being occupied by one of his descendants forever was fulfilled through Jesus Christ our King. Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, 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. Jesus clarifies that those who do what He says are the ones who really love Him! David was called a man after God’s own heart because he loved and served God, and fulfilled all that God called him to do!
Jesus spoke this parable to those who considered themselves righteous and better than others because of their good works. Two men went up into the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee, and the other was a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of everything I have. Now the publican stood afar off, not willing to so much as lift up his eyes toward heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. This parable brings clarity to the fact that God looks on the heart more than on our words and actions. The proud do not get God’s ear because they have rejected the truth. The truth is that without God we are nothing, we are lost and without hope. Our best efforts fall way short of the righteousness required to walk with God. Our righteousness is a gift from God! 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We have been given the life of God! (see John 10:10) We become partakers of the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in this world through lust when we take hold of God’s exceeding great and precious promises! (2 Pet. 1:4) It is a great gift to be made righteous through Jesus and be accepted by the Father! We are told to come boldly before the throne of grace and ask for help in time of need, but that boldness is having confidence in what God said and in what Jesus did. Jesus emphasized that we are to approach the Father with reverence when we pray. The psalmist writes that God does not delight in the strength of the horse nor take pleasure in the legs of a man. God takes pleasure in those that fear Him and in those who hope in His mercy. Remember how the publican prayed, God, be merciful to me a sinner. He was honest with God, acknowledging that it was only through His mercy that he could be forgiven and justified.
We are spirit beings who have a soul and live in a body. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said that it is the spirit that makes alive and that His words are spirit and life. Much of what is being taught in our schools today is to develop the mind and the body while the heart of man is being deprived. Our soul consists of our mind, will, and emotions. The spirit or heart of man is the real you, the part that lives forever. Paul writes that he buffets his body and Peter refers to dwelling in his body while on this earth. 2 Peter 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; The anointed word of God distinguishes between our desires and the will of God! Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is with the heart that man believes unto salvation! Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Jesus reveals the mighty power contained in His word will manifest, or appear, when received and nurtured in the one with a good heart. This anointed word of God that was sent to save, heal, deliver, and prosper is limited by the condition of our heart. In the parable of the sower, only one out of four keep their heart with all diligence and reap their harvest. 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. Our heart is like the soil of the earth in that it will bring forth a harvest of whatever is sown into it, good or bad. Weeds and sin came with the curse and it takes purpose, diligence, and work to keep them out. As we watch and pray these plots and ploys of the enemy can be turned away! The five main ways the enemy of our soul endeavors to turn us from obeying God, are affliction (or trouble), persecution, cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things. The good news is that God will not allow the evil one to tempt us beyond our ability to resist! 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. God sowed His Son, the Living Word of God, into the world to redeem and to save fallen man, to all who will receive Him. There is a labor to entering into faith because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ! The devil does everything he can to keep us from hearing God’s word because he knows that if we receive (believe) the word of God, act on it, and refuse to let it go we become unstoppable.
Faith, hope, and love all proceed from the heart and the greatest of these is love! Those of us who are born of God have the ability to love like God loves. Jesus gave us a new commandment, love one another as I have loved you. We all know something about love because we instinctively seem to know if someone is not walking in love towards us. It is very important to the Father that we love one another like Jesus loves us! Holding a grudge against someone will stop our prayers from being answered. Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Matthew records that if we refuse to show compassion on our brother who trespasses against us we will be turned over to the tormentors and be held responsible for all of our previously forgiven sins. Mt. 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. A perfect heart is one who is fully committed to the Father’s will, diligently fulfilling the work assigned to them, and keeping themselves from evil. Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. As we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and instantly obey the voice of our conscience we will experience victory upon victory!
Amos 5:15 CEV Choose good instead of evil! See that justice is done. Maybe I, the LORD All-Powerful, will be kind to what’s left of your people.
