Westminster Theological Seminary Devotional - 97-09-02 - Guard Your Heart

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt. 6:21)

None of our hearts are in our own keeping. If God be our treasure, He has called for our heart. "My son, give me your heart" (Proverbs 23:26) Let any earthly thing become our treasure and it will take away our heart.

  1. Whatever has your heart, has your thoughts the most. The first and most dear of our thoughts are spent on what our treasure is. What are the eyes of your mind fixed upon? That is your treasure and that has your heart. Whatever the heart has fixed upon as its treasure, the mind reviews with its thoughts.
  2. Thoughts do show the true mindset of a person. A thought is the freest act that we can have. A thought is where a mind can most, "be itself". In our thoughts we can honestly, "think what we will".
  3. Thoughts reveal the soul more than anything else. Our thoughts are the first acts of our soul, for our soul is always acting. Whatever thoughts our hearts are consumed with, there is where the heart is.

My friends, we find the world can steal our hearts, but we always end up feeling empty. The next world event will probably be bigger and more shocking than the last. In the end we are here for two reasons, I believe, and nothing should steal our hearts from these:

  1. We are here to become Christlike. We are here to grow in the knowledge, wisdom and practice of godliness.
  2. We are here to serve Christ. We are on earth to represent Christ as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). This can mean many things, but we exist, as followers of Christ, to advance His kingdom, whatever it takes.

This means that our hearts and our thoughts must not be compromised by the world for any reason. It matters not what world events are going on.

Thought for today: It was 96 years ago today when President Roosevelt said the United States should, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." The first time this statement was used, I believe. Jesus said, in Matthew 5:39, "...whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." These statements must not have anything in common or relate to each other, right? or not right?

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-