The Posture of Your Heart
Society places far too much attention on appearances. That’s why the cosmetic and clothing industries have become exceedingly lucrative. Even the dead have to appear in their coffins as if they were just having a momentary nap, in full regalia, before going to a formal party.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ time also put much emphasis on externalities. Theirs was a religion of doing instead of being, of appearances instead of reality, because their hearts were not in tune with the will of the living God! They excelled in surpassing the Law’s demands, while showing no real concern for the true spirit of God’s requirements. No wonder Jesus reserved some of His strongest rebukes to those religious leaders whose lives He compared to “whited sepulchres,” besides other eloquent, non-complimentary descriptions.
In spite of Jesus’strong dislike of the pharisaical spirit, and of the New Testament’s graphic denunciations of similar attitudes, one still finds throughout Christian history those who observe a “holier than thou”attitude, by majoring on minors, and leaving untouched the essence of the Gospel.
They would readily judge a fellow Christian just because that one would not kneel for prayer, or not keep the eyes shut throughout the same, or one might fail to sing along with the congregation, or raise the hands at a time of praise, or dress in a certain way when coming to church, or doing this and not doing that!
While it is true that one is known by the quality of one’s tangible fruits, God is far more interested in the posture of your heart. This was clearly made known when a shepherd boy of Israel, named David, was chosen to become his nation’s king. In that connection, God Himself made known the eseence of the issue by saying: “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart”(I Samuel 16:7b).
Is your heart truly connected to the heart of God? Remember that it is from the heart that the issues of life flow. Thus, may the posture of your heart supercede whatever you may manifest outwardly, and may what you show on the outside be a positive reflection of your heart’s relationship to the Lord God!
Once this is the case, and you are sure of it, before finalizing a decision, any decision, consult your heart for a second opinion - hopefully the right opinion!
