Devotion 726

"God Looks At The Heart."

Reference: Proverbs Chapter 17

Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Before it is a word, it is a thought. Before it is a thought, it is a spirit.

The Holy Spirit will put thoughts in the mind of the believer, and that thought will manifest as a word or deed.

Evil spirits will put thoughts in the mind of the unbeliever, and that also manifests as words and deeds

The difference is that the believer or righteous will manifest righteous words and deeds whereas the unbeliever or wicked will manifest wicked words and deeds.

God looks at our spirits.

Let's read:

Proverbs 17:1-3 "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. [2] A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. [3] The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts."

 Out of the heart proceeds every thought, idea, or plan.

Matthew 15:18-19 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. [19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"

Some may say you are your thought. I say you are your spirit or your heart.

We continue our reading:

Proverbs 17:4-10 "A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. [5] Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. [6] Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. [7] Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. [8] A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. [9] He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. [10] A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool."

The wise, the man or woman who has exited Adam's blood into the blood of Christ, is inclined to the Word of God. The man or woman who remains in the blood of Adam through unbelief is not moved by even stripes. The Word of God is meaningless to them.

We continue our reading:

Proverbs 17:11-22 "An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. [12] Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. [13] Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. [14] The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. [15] He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. [16] Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? [17] A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. [18] A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. [19] He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. [20] He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. [21] He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. [22] A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

The merry heart is the heart that is molded, guided, and led by the Holy Spirit. It's like medicine to the spirit, mind, and body.

We continue our reading:

Proverbs 17:23-27 "A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. [24] Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. [25] A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. [26] Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. [27] He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit."

Jesus Christ spared His words.

Matthew 27:13-14 "Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? [14] And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly."

His silence spoke louder e than words. He let His blood do the speaking.

The wise man or woman who has exited the blood of Adam into the blood of Christ spares his or her word; they let the blood of Jesus speak for them.

We conclude our reading:

Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."

Let the blood of Jesus Christ speak on your behalf. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Redeemer as we've revealed Him from the first Adam. God looks at the heart, in Christ!