Reading: Proverbs 6:20-29
What you allow into your inner life is what will result in coming out. The Proverb here tells us to tie our parents' instructions around our necks and bind them to our hearts. When we remain faithful with our hearts when it comes to God and marriage, we will have no problem staying faithful to our spouse. God says that lust and adultery begin in the heart. When we can guard our hearts from this temptation, we will have a faithful marriage. The heart is an important aspect of how we carry ourselves through life. Our motives, desires, and temptations start there. Guard your heart above all else. It is how you will find the right ways in life.
Reading: Mark 12:28-44
Love with your whole heart.
Jesus tells us that the most important commandment is to love The Lord with all your heart, mind and soul. The second greatest is to love your neighbor. When we are in a relationship with God, our hearts overflow with love to Him and our neighbors, because that is the result of God's love in us.
Outward vs. Inward Appearance
The religious leaders were always concerned with abiding by the law and looking good to others around them. God cares about what you look like from the inside, or from your heart. When your inner motives line up, the outward appearance will match up. Many times, our hearts may want a relationship wi God, but to show it can be scary. Maybe you're embarrassed about what your peers or coworkers would think. Outward appearance will always match the motives and life of you inward self.
Generous Heart
We read about the widow who only have two coins, but they were all she had, and the rich people who gave a portion of their income. Jesus notices this woman and tells how this pleases The Lord. When we are generous to others around us, or to God, we will be blesses. Jesus calls us to lose our lives, possessions, everything for His cause. Giving up what we have, and all we have to Him is a heart motive that can be hard in today's culture.
Reading: Leviticus 13:1-59
Being Healthy and Holy
Leviticus is all about being healthy and holy. We see how they were careful what they ate, what they spread, and how they presented themselves before God. One thing that the religious rulers in the New Testament struggle with is believing that the laws and the outward appearance are what make you holy. Jesus threw the idea of love from the heart at them though. When you have God's love in you, the rest falls into place. Many look at laws the other way around. In order to gain holiness, they believe they need to follow all the rule to earn it. In truth though, you need God's love, then the laws and rules will fall into place as a response to God's love. Inward motives will reveal with outward motives.
Having a good heart filled with God's love will reveal our outward appearance. Check the motives of your heart before focusing on the way you look on the outside.
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