A TRUE HEART
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
Part One
“Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes,
saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.
But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee,
he shall go in thither: encourage him:
for he shall cause Israel to inherit it”
Deuteronomy 1:37-38
We see and hear much of leadership in the context of the Christian faith these days. We see many who are striving to build up their church, their organization and their ministry; all the while the Body of Christ remains divided and secularized. God’s true leaders seek not their own. They seek God’s glory which is the welfare and spiritual condition of His People. Moses paid a terrible price in being denied access to the promised land because of Israel’s hard heart and unbelief. In the midst of such disappointment God charges Moses to encourage, teach and mentor Joshua to finish what God had begun with Moses. A selfish and self-serving man could not endure this sacrificial task. It would be one thing to appear to fulfill a commission like this but another thing altogether to do it with a whole and pure heart. Only men who are concerned with God’s glory and purposes can walk in such high places. A pure and holy heart is the means by which these things can be real and alive within the Body of Christ.
“Let nothing be done
through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself”
Philippians 2:3
Can we grasp the power and intent of the heart of God in this scripture? Let us meditate on the little phrase “Let nothing be done” out of the spirit of factions and self promotion. How quickly the Body of Christ would arise out of the ashes of human striving for pre-eminence and control into a glorious expression of all that HE has purposed in Christ!. May God convict us to desire that pure heart and the joy found in seeing our brothers excel in the gifts and the callings of God in their lives. If the very Son of God took upon Himself the “form” of a servant shall not we, who declare it is He alone we serve, do likewise?
It is time to search our hearts, to consider the hidden motives by which we “serve” God. Though our works may appear good in the sight of men it is the ONE with the “eyes of fire” who sees the true motives and intents of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12).
“Let us search and try our ways
and turn again unto the Lord”
Lamentations 3:40
It is only then that we will discover the “Pearl of great price”; HIS heart living in us.
“…let us have grace, whereby we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear”
Hebrews 12:28
Brian Troxel
www.aword.info
Brian, another Article of pure truth. Thanks. Man either covers his sin and hides it from his fellow man. We have all done such, but God always knows. But an even more perverse way is the flaunting of it. The claiming that it is not sin, and being openly proud of the sin while claiming it righteous and God approved. We see these actions much more in our leaders and in our surroundings today. Love your posts Brian.
Thank you!
BT
Thank you!
BT
Brian, another Article of pure truth. Thanks. Man either covers his sin and hides it from his fellow man. We have all done such, but God always knows. But an even more perverse way is the flaunting of it. The claiming that it is not sin, and being openly proud of the sin while claiming it righteous and God approved. We see these actions much more in our leaders and in our surroundings today. Love your posts Brian.