Heaven Help the Heart! (This is the first of a series on the heart)

 When I was much younger and living at home with my mom and siblings it was easy to blame things on someone else. I got pretty good at blaming my brother and/or sister. Being the oldest I also thought I was the smartest, strongest, and fastest. Somewhere along the way all that changed. When I start to blame someone or something else now I get these weird looks as if the other person is thinking: You have got to be kidding! How old are you? Some people are really slow learners and my hand is up first.

One of the most astonishing passages in the Bible is Mark 7:21-23: “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” So much for blaming someone or something else for my discontent, bad-mouthing others, thoughts that are just plain wrong, and living my life as if I am the center of the universe. But this passage, which is also repeated in Matthew 15, is not meant to condemn or criticize me. It is not the Pharisees pointing their self-righteous, legalistic, and moralistic fingers at me; it is Jesus who makes this diagnosis of the human heart; Jesus the pursuer and purifier of the heart.

So what makes this passage so astonishing, not to mention making me feel uncomfortable? Think about why Jesus said He came: “But when Jesus heard this, He said, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.’ 13"But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matt 9:12-13). Good news and bad news! If there is nothing wrong with me Jesus did not come for me. If I never fail, Jesus did not come for me. If I always get it right, Jesus did not come for me.

But He did and He comes at the level of the heart. That is where it all begins. The reason I don’t do well at “loving Jesus with all my heart” is because there are other things in the way. That’s the bad news. The good news is that God made a promise long ago that He would work at the level of the heart: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command” (Ezek 36:25-27).

One by one He is rescuing me from those things I love and want and fear more than Him. He is not about to let me get away with blame shifting for He took my blame upon Himself. It is a good thing He is after my heart because only He can do something about it.