Stan and I were again at the Twelve Baskets Cafe enjoying breakfast together. As Stan often does, he told me he had been talking to a neighbor. This time the neighbor told him he’d recently seen his cardiologist for an annual checkup where he also got a spiritual checkup. I asked Stan to explain.
“My neighbor,” Stan began, “has a history of some problems with his heart. Each year he goes to his cardiologist for a checkup to see how everything’s going.”
“How’s it going with him?” I asked .
“Everything seems to be fine, with his physical heart,” Stan replied, “and he was delighted to have his doctor also spend some time checking on his spiritual heart.”
“Spiritual heart?”
“Yeah,” Stan replied, “since the condition of our spiritual heart is what determines our receptivity to God’s word and what He wants to do in and through us, it’s important to have a regular checkup on it’s condition.”
Continuing, he added, “My neighbor said that’s what his cardiologist does with all of his patients. He checks to see how they are doing with what Jesus said about people who have honest and good hearts.”
“What’d Jesus say about those people?”
“They are the ones who hear what God has to say, they hold it fast or dear, and they bear fruit on a consistent basis.”
“You’re right,” I responded. “Hear what God has to say, hold it dear, and bear fruit. Checking to see how I’m doing with those things is a great way to measure how my heart’s doing!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And the seed in the good ground, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. Luke 8:15.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t hear your word with a good and honest heart, I don’t hold it fast, and I don’t produce the fruit you have for me to produce. Please forgive the foolishness of attempting to live the new life you’ve given without having such a heart. Please help me follow every step of your lead in having a good, honest, and receptive heart to hear and apply all you have for me. Thank you the I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Can you hear what God has for you as a Christian because you’ve accepted His provision for you through the cross of Christ? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with having a heart that is receptive to God’s word? How about holding that word fast? How about your consistent fruit production? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to hear what He has for you, to hold it fast, and to produce the fruit He intends? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?