Hidden In My Heart

Hidden In My Heart

I CORINTHIANS 4

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"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God."

I Corinthians 4:5

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This scripture speaks loudly to me, but if I'm being honest I haven't read it or applied it appropriately. And let's be clear if we can't apply scripture rightly then we are certain to be applying it wrongly.

We are to judge nothing. But we tend to judge everything. We behave righteously, sticking our noses up at others who we've judged lesser, different, uncommon, unwanted, etc. We judge others' hearts, intentions, and motives. We even decide if others are interested in hearing about God, explaining and rationalizing away our lack of courage and disinterest in furthering the gospel and making Jesus famous.

The scripture also declares that when the Lord comes- He will bring light to the hidden and will reveal motives of the heart.

Judgement and discernment differ. One explanation I found, discernment is perceiving without judgment and with the intention of obtaining spiritual direction and understanding, it seeks the truth from a higher perspective. Judgement is critical and based in comparison, it's about force and exuding power.

Biblically speaking we don't know our own hearts let alone the motives of another.

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"The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?"

Jeremiah 17:9

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"then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men)."

I Kings 8:39

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These scriptures set me straight because I have always assumed I know my own heart and motives. I've even suggested countless times that I know others' hearts and motives too. How presumptuous. How dare I presume to know in others what I couldn't possibly even know in myself?

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"And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen."

Acts 1:24

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"If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”

Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?

He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?

And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?"

Proverbs 24:12

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"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;"

Psalm 139:23

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"For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."

I John 3:20

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God gives solutions. He gives grace - He gives mercy - He gives direction. He gives hope.

Prayer: Thank you Father for your heart towards me. Thank you for the reminder that You are the only one who can discern the motives of my heart. Search me, know me, try me, and purify me. Let my heart be pure before You, filter out all selfishness and ill intent, let my heart be forever chasing after Yours. In the beautiful name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, Oh Lord!

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