Jesus wants your heart

Matthew 15: 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

If I were to ask you: where is your heart is? What would be your answer? You should maybe think about it, because it is the core of the faith. It's all about your heart and whether it actually is to Christ. A serious question, but also a question of vital importance. Because if you later come to realize that this is not the case, it is still time to repent. 

You now have time to bring your heart close to Jesus, because it is good.

Jesus goes to a question from the Pharisees. You know, those people who like to catch him in a mistake. But also the leaders of the people, the spiritual leaders. They were not atheists, but believers who lived as much as possible to the commandments of God. They asked Jesus the question of washing hands before eating. That's where they were apparently doing, and that was to Jesus at the wrong side. You can ask anything to him, you can lay all your heart before him, but pious talk are with Him not in the right place.

For Jesus indicates what is important in life and he says, not what goes into the mouth defiles the man, but what comes out of the mouth. We can do ourselves and others harm with what we say and not what we eat or do. Because what we say affects our heart. But Jesus has said anything before that we should make you think: this people draw near to Him and honor Him with the mouth, but not with their hearts. And that is the problem of many people. Our heart is close to Jesus or away from Him. But our mouth can pretend we are very close to him. Therefore, we must hold ourselves to this mirror.

For when you just mouth talking about Jesus, and it does not come from the heart, then he calls you a hypocrite. Those are not the words of me or of the apostle, but the words of Jesus himself. It makes no sense not to speak pious and just keep pious talk. You can spend hours talking about the Bible and even teach others, but if it does not come from your heart, you are a hypocrite. You can be present in many praise service and to call every sense of the speaker hallelujah, but if it does not come from your heart, you are a hypocrite. Those are harsh words, but spoken by Jesus himself. I need this always to ask: what about my heart? And you, what about your heart?

But this does not make make us sad because Jesus reveals His glory to us and wants to draw us closer to Him so. He shows us his hands and says that I have done for you. I have my blood shed for your show, that should never be forgotten. And that should bring us closer to Christ. When we see our sin and know the grace of Jesus, then our hearts come closer to Him and we can let go of all other earthly trivia.

When we offer empty-handed, it will all come together. Then we will open our mouths and worship and honor Jesus Christ, with all our heart! Then you hear a song of joy on our lips about the great Savior, then we will fall down in worship and praise Jesus. You, Lord Jesus, You did it. Take my heart and to add together, the fear of thy name. Because Lord my God, I will praise and lift my heart up. I will declare your name and glory, honor forever.