Aug 16 – Give Him Your Heart!

“My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.” (Proverbs 23:26)

The Lord created all things for mankind. The sun, the moon, and the stars are among His great gifts to humanity. The mountains, hills, valleys, trees, and plants are all expressions of His loving generosity. In His compassion, He has provided a rich variety of food and the changing seasons for our well-being. He gave us a marvellous body to live upon the earth, a soul through which we relate to the world around us, and a spirit through which we enjoy fellowship with heaven.

When man fell into sin, God gave His own blood to cleanse that sin away. He offered His entire body as a sacrifice on the Cross. He was willing to heal our diseases. He gave us His love, His peace, and His joy. Indeed, He gave Himself completely. Yet, after giving us everything, He asks only one thing in return – our heart.

When we surrender our whole heart to Him, He gladly enters in, transforms it into His temple, and makes it His dwelling place. He becomes our God, and we become His people.

How tragic it is that many profess to worship the Lord only with their lips while withholding their hearts, remaining Christians merely in name! Jesus said with sorrow: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honour Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me.” (Isaiah 29:13; cf. Matthew 15:8)

If you give your heart to the Lord, He will cleanse and sanctify it. The Bible declares: “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

Since the Lord has blessed you with health, strength, and wisdom, you have the privilege and responsibility of honouring Him with the tithe of your income. When you give willingly and cheerfully, the Lord promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3:10). He also promises to multiply His blessings upon you a thousandfold (Deuteronomy 1:11).

Do not give only your tithes and offerings – give Him your time as well. Of the twenty-four hours He graciously gives you each day, should you not devote at least one hour to be with Him? Give Him your time to love Him, praise Him, sing to Him, glorify Him, and serve Him faithfully.

Verse for further meditation: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)