Do We Have The Heart of Jesus?
Good Morning Friends,
Let’s face it, our hearts are not always hopeful. Our hearts are not always set on a heavenly purpose. Our hearts are not always thankful. Sometimes people bring out our worst. Sometimes we set some people above others. Still Jesus managed to love in all situations always placing great value on everyone regardless of their socio economic standing in the community. In today’s Gospel reading we see an example of how Jesus engenders a loving heart in others. And yes it is about the joy of being forgiven. But there is more. As we look at some additional scripture about the heart we ask: Do We Have The Heart of Jesus?
Scripture: One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-7:50 (NRSV)
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
John 13:1 (NRSV)
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4 (NRSV)
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23 (NRSV)
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 148:1-14 (NRSV)
Message: Today we look at what might prompt us to love more effectively as a minister to others and to ourselves, and I think it comes down to less about preparing the head and more about preparing the heart. It was after all the heart that drew the Son of God from heaven. It is heart that will draw men to God. Oh we do need more compassion in this world that sympathizes with its woe. We do need to kiss away the world’s sorrows, to be compassionate in its misery, and to alleviate the world’s pain. Friends, Christ is a man of sorrows, because he is a man of heart. And the heart of Jesus is mercy…infinite and limitless love that never gives up and is never exhausted as it turns sorrows into joy. The unimposing heart of Jesus sets us free and helps us to realize that God desires to embrace everyone and to lose none. In light of this we need to check what our hearts are set on and what treasures we seek. We are to include others in our lives with a focus on love. When Jesus told the disciples that He was about to leave them and return to the Father, fear filled their hearts. Yet He gave them words of comfort and assurance—words that still inspire and bless us today. Know that Jesus intimately shares His heart with His loved ones. When Jesus knew that His time had come, He, the Creator, got down on His hands and knees and washed the feet of His creation. God honors what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus forgives. So do not give your permission to others to trouble your heart. Keep a heavenly heart in order to turn off anxiety. Have a believing heart that we can do even greater works than Jesus did while He was here on Earth. Embrace the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, and be ministers about the Truth of God and the companionship of Jesus through the Spirit. Accept the peace of Christ. Understand that pruning can help purify us. Understand that the badge of friendship is an example of the sacrificial and generous love of Jesus. Understand that what Jesus loves, the world hates and that what Jesus hates, the world loves. Friends, to have the heart of Jesus the Holy Spirit must live in us and work through us to convict us so we might become righteous and experience the sorrows that God will transform into joy.
Pray we contemplate the heart of Jesus in all that is good. Pray we trust that Jesus will take pity on us. Pray we discover a new identity in us, of not just good stewards worthy of praise, but of people with the heart of Jesus. Pray we heed His call in the hope of love. Pray we realize that we too walk on Holy Ground when we have Jesus in our hearts. Pray we devote ourselves to knowing Him and loving Him with all of our mind, body and spirit.
Pray our hearts be right with God.
Pray our hearts seek out not just the Lord but lost sheep as well with an urgency and strength that does not fail. Pray we have a heart sufficiently free to set aside our own concerns. Pray we rejoice in all things. Pray we practice living with an attitude of gratitude. Pray we refuse to become a person with a critical spirit and judgmental attitude. Pray we have the heart of our Lord always giving thanks to God for everything. Pray we learn to bring the core of our love and life into the lives of the lost. Pray we have a servant’s heart. Pray we have a clean heart. Pray we have a discerning heart. Pray we have a heavenly heart. Pray we have a believing heart. Pray we have a strengthened heart. Pray we have a peaceful heart. Pray we have a fruitful heart. Pray we have a loving heart. Pray we have a courageous heart. Pray we have a witnessing heart. Pray we have an understanding heart. Pray we see with the compassionate eyes of Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 