The True Heart

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4: 7-11 NKJV

How can we tell a christian in a crowd?  Is it by the "Jesus saves" t shirt that they wear?  Is it by the christian conference bracelet that adorns their wrist?  Often, it's difficult to spot those who are followers of Jesus among us unless we truly know them.  Why are so many christians in disguise these days?  They walk among us, but we often do not know them.  And yet we are told that christianity is one of this worlds largest religions.  The christians are out there somewhere, right?  I had a conversation with a friend of mine this morning on this very subject.  Just how are we to recognize a christian among us?  We have no membership cards, but we definately have battle scars to bear.  Of course, there are ways of telling just who is a christian and who isn't, even in this fallen world.  Our conversation this morning led into one that we've had on more than a few occasions.  As my friend puts it, we who know Jesus have a "Heart for others," and this is exemplified in our conduct towards others among us.  Of course, the opposite side of this very coin is the "Heart for self" that those who have not known Jesus may possess.  Now, even those who have this "Heart for others" may also exhibit bad behavior on occasion.  We can use satan as the prime example of the "Heart for self" mindset.  For each and every action he has taken has never been about anything but himself.  Beyond being simply selfish, satan continually seeks to glorify himself.  This is the heart for self in a nutshell.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba Father!"  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir of God through Christ.
Galations 4: 3-7 NKJV

It is easy to say that those who know Christ Jesus are those who exemplify Him through their behavior and conduct.  But what of he who knows Jesus who acts out in ungodly behavior?  I know I have my moments.  Are we indeed judged unworthy because of this?  NO!  For Jesus has cleansed us of our sins past, present and future.  However, this does not mean that I do not heed the tug of my flesh from time to time, but this no longer defines who I am.  This is no longer my true heart.  And so it is with those who know Jesus who may from time to time follow the leadings of the flesh, this is not our true heart.  For our true heart is now the very heart of Christ who indwells within us.  For we are the branches of the true vine which is Jesus {John 15: 4-6}  We should not fear when our flesh beckons us, for this does not change the very inheritance we have through Christ Jesus {Galations 4: 3-7}  Our true heart is the very heart of He who lives on within us {Galations 2:20}.

~Scott~