Christians work at guarding their hearts.

Part 1

“Keep thy heart with all diligence.”
The heart takes precedence!  For those who are ill with serious ailments, regardless of their urgency, the issues with their heart will take priority over all other illnesses.  Without our physical heart, our life would be very short indeed.  Solomon understood how important our heart is spiritually.  No, not the physical blood pumper, but the “seat of our emotions” the place where we do our thinking, and decision-making.  When the question of evil comes up, we don’t have to look far from “man’s heart.”  Jesus said,

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23).

It seems there is no end to the depths of depravity that a man can go with his evil heart.  Man is “totally depraved.”  This does not mean that a man is as evil as he could be, but only that his sin affects every part of his life and being.

If the sin pattern is not broken, it leads to greater sin and finally to death.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

Man needs a regenerate heart that can only come from the power of the gospel and the work of the Spirit.

We, believers, understand that we still are carrying our old man in us, who tries to lead us into sin.  This is why we need to be so careful to guard our hearts.

“Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them” (Proverbs 22:5).

“Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way” (Proverbs 23:19).

If you believe that sin is never going to be a problem for you, here’s how you are described in this proverb.

“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26).

“‘Above all keeping,’ guard thy heart. He who knows any thing of himself, knows how apt his affections are to go astray” [1] (Clarke).

Believers, we always need to be busy about guarding our hearts.  Come back tomorrow as we discuss the issues that come from our hearts.

[1] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.