The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 WEB
The heart beats at the core of human flesh. It is the seat of human emotion and desire. When ruled by our hearts, we are reactive, impulsive, and often, poorly self controlled. When we listen to our hearts, we follow the desires of our corrupt flesh. Understanding that the heart is deceitful, mature Christians are not ruled by the passions of the flesh. Dead to the flesh and alive in the Spirit, the Spirit of God rules our hearts giving way to the spiritual fruit of self control.
The heart lusts for the things of this world. On the other hand, the Spirit longs for the things of God. If we focus on our hearts first, we are prone to satisfying the flesh and engaging in destructive behavior. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, his impure heart led him astray. In the moment, David was content to sin and please his flesh. But, the desires of his heart lead to an illegitimate pregnancy, a murder, and the eventual loss of a child.
Create in Me a Clean Heart
The heart is deceitful, enticing men and women to destructive acts in the pursuit of self satisfaction. David’s adultery came straight from the corruption of his heart. For the moments of pleasure he received, he suffered tremendous shame and regret for his sinful pursuits. Repenting from his sin, David wrote in Psalm 51:10-11, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. KJV”
As Chrstians, we should take great care to rule our hearts and flesh with reason and the Holy Spirit. Our hearts make for great servants but they are unruly masters. For this reason the psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. WEB”
Keep Thy Heart
The heart is deceitful. With this understanding, Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheeba, wrote in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. KJV” Finally, Christ taught that sin originates in the human heart. The Lord said of adultery in Matthew 5:28, “but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the wisdom you share through scripture. Thank you for the truth of your holy word. Create in me a clean heart. Write your laws in my heart. Guide me to do your will all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Prophets and Teachers
