The cry of the committed heart

The Bible uses the word heart more than 900 times, almost never literally; The heart is regarded (as in the modern usage) as the seat of the affections (e.g., Gen 18:5; Ps 62:10) but also as the seat of the intellect (e.g., Gen 6:5) and of the will (e.g., Ps 119:2). Often it signifies the innermost being (e.g., Gen 6:6).

All that we are comes from the heart, it is the centre of our being: character, personality, will and mind are all located in the heart.

How do you define a committed heart?

If it’s just about blind obedience, then all you’re likely to have is a fanatical heart. It never questions, it never thinks, it simply does. God is not looking for fanatical hearts. Perhaps a committed heart is an unswerving heart; a heart that turns neither to the right nor to the left to paraphrase the charge given to Joshua as he began his leadership.

Perhaps we can best define a committed heart as one that gives itself wholeheartedly to God.

Characteristics of a committed heart

#1 A hope filled heart

According to Paul, hope is a gift of the Holy Spirit that, with faith and love, is an essential characteristic of the Christian when prophecies, tongues, and knowledge pass away (1 Cor 13:8, 13).

The biblical concept of hope is not mere expectation and desire, as in Greek literature, but includes confidence (Rom 15:13). Christ in you is the hope of glory (Col 1:27; cf. 1 Tim 1:1). All creation hopes for redemption (Rom 8:19-25 RSV). Christians have a "blessed hope--the glorious appearing of . . . Jesus Christ" (Titus 1:2; 2:13), which motivates purity (1 John 3:3). Hope is linked with faith (Heb 11:1). It depends on Jesus' resurrection (1 Cor 15:19). Hope is little spoken of in the Gospels, while Jesus was on earth, or in Revelation. The hope that animated Paul (Acts 26:6-8) was "the hope of Israel" (28:20).

NT hope has deep roots in the OT, where "hope" translates a variety of Hebrew words, which mean "confidence," "trust," "safety," etc., sometimes so rendered in more modern versions.

In Psalm 25, the basis of hope is the character of God.

Mercy, love, consistent, forgiving, good, upright

Because God is all these things, we have a solid and sure foundation for hope. We hope with faith because our God is faithful, we hope with trust because our God is trustworthy.

#2 A learning heart

Teachable (Ps.86:11); Guided. 10x in Psalm 119 it says “teach me”

How do you cultivate a teachable heart?

#1 Pay attention to God’s instructions

Proverbs 10:17 adds, "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."

As we receive and respond to teaching from God, we mature spiritually. To cultivate a teachable heart, then, we must agree with and act upon the truth, the Word of God. When we are teachable, we grow. When we are not teachable, we stagnate.

#2 Trust and obey

1Sam.15:22 "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

#3 Know your limits

We don’t know it all.

Having no awareness of our spiritual need, no realization that we are being confronted with truth that applies to us personally, we are not teachable, but spiritually smug. When we feel we're doing fine just as we are and have no need of change or correction, we resist God's showing us areas He wants to change. Instead we need to be ready to learn from anyone anytime about anything.

There are serious consequences for having an unteachable heart. For the Old Testament kings, the consequences were often visible and dramatic. Saul's kingdom was taken from him. Asa contracted a wretched disease in his feet (2 Chr. 16:12). Amaziah and Uzziah both lost their kingdoms (2 Chr. 25 and 26).

The consequences for unteachableness today are every bit as real. Proverbs 10:8 tells us that those who are wise will receive instruction, " . . . but a chattering fool comes to ruin." Proverbs 15:32 warns, "He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding."

#3 A forgiven heart

Remember not the sins of my youth: A forgiven past

Forgive my iniquity, though it is great: Nothing unforgiven

Take away all my sins: Totally forgiven

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us (Ps.103:12)

#4 A heart of integrity and uprightness

Integrity: whole, unity, sound

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skilful hands he led them

Identity + Integrity + heart = Impact

#5 A humble heart

We are not the centre of the universe, but we are the object of God’s affections.

The opposite of humble is surely proud.

PS 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.

PR 16:5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
A humble heart knows it stands by grace alone and merits nothing of itself. A humble heart knows it needs God’s forgiveness and grace, never presumes to have it by right, but rejoices in the truth of god’s unfailing love.

Conclusion

The cry of the committed heart is simply this: Here I am Lord, send me.

Teachable, humble, whole, forgiven and above all willing.

All to Jesus I surrender, All to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, In his presence daily live
All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at his feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Saviour, wholly thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit, truly know that thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to thee; Fill me with thy love and power, Let thy blessing fall on me.
I surrender all, I surrender all, All to thee my blessed Saviour, I surrender all