Text: Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV
Further Reading: Genesis 37:18-36
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV
MESSAGE
Only God knows what is in the heart of a man, even though they laugh at you, their heart may be devising evil. In Psalms 12:2, the Bible says, They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
Who would think that Joseph’s brethren would be the ones to sell him off? Their hearts were not right with their brother? Can you imagine the people you trust stabbing you in the back? How do you respond to those things?
Today we see the badness of the heart of even men of the altar. People who are supposed to be priests and leading men to God. They have turned themselves into sons of Eli who for greed, covetousness, and immorality desecrate and pollute God’s holy temple. Something is wrong with such a heart and certainly needs to be recreated as David cried in Psalms (51:10).
What is the state of your own heart? Has your heart not changed from following God to following money and other things? You just check yourself and examine your life (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Our text of the day warns us that the hearts of men are desperately wicked and full of deceit and only God can know it. This is why you must subject your own heart to the x-ray of God’s word.
The Bible says that when you allow the word of God to shine into your heart, it will direct everything and reveal the hidden things of the heart that has been covered up within. Do not hide yourself from God’s word (Hebrews 4:12). Note that the more you meditate upon the word of God, it will also give you spiritual discernment into the heart of other men so that you will not fall into the hands of false preachers.
Finally, the Bible says that you must let God’s word dwell richly in you in wisdom, and also hide God’s word in your heart so that you will not sin against God (Psalms 119:11).
REFLECTION
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5 NKJV
Ask the Lord to make you a man of understanding so that you can both discern the intent of your heart and that of other people.
PRAYER
Father, please give me an understanding heart today in Jesus’ name. Amen.
