Jeremiah 17:10
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings [ Revelation: 2:23].
The heart is the center of everything, used figuratively for the intellect , emotions and the will. Intent is the act of intending to do something.
Behind the mind is a thought to be acted on. So where there is an action /intent, there was a thought! And where there is a thought, there is an action / intent. Out of the heart comes the issues of life!! (Proverbs 4:23)
Whatever your doing, what is your intent?
Everything man does, there’s intent! Jesus willfully died because the intent was to save/redeem mankind and reconcile all men to God ( Romans 5:10), in Love He gave. Paul got letters with the intent of killing believers ( Acts 9:2). Saphira and Ananias lied with the intent of being viewed as givers, perhaps to get a reputation but the Holyspirit knew their mind, their intent!!..( Acts 5:1-11). Believers did sell their properties and offer in the full amount ( Acts 4:34, 37). Ananias and Saphira on the other hand sold their property and conspired to only give in part.
Acts 5:2-5
²And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.³But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?⁴Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. ⁵And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
What is your intent?
God is looking for men after His own heart, a syncing of hearts to Him…Those who delight in His ways, a yearning after Him, a recognition of sin, a longing to please Him, He is not looking for perfect people but for a people who long after Him. It is no wonder that David was called a man after God’s own heart!!
Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
God’s will is what His word is, what He requires. David’s actions showed it!! He commits adultery and recorgnises the mistake once his sin was revealed which aligns to God’s will / word ( 1 John 1:9, 2 Samuel 12:7-14), unlike Saul who denied his sin and whose repentance wasn’t from the heart ( 1 Samuel 15:20ff), David’s heart smote him when he cut off Saul’s clothe ( 1 Samuel 24:5, 1 Samuel 26:8 ), surely, it is the heart that moves God!
David prays
Psalms 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
He showed love where he would have revenged, for instance Abner was against him being king but embraced Him with forgiveness and deemed His servant Joab wicked for Killing Him, He showed grace and favour. Nothing you do can please the king outside who He is. He showed favour to those who didn’t participate in war to gain back what they had lost, they partook of the lot they didn’t engage in war for regardless of the resistance to share with them ( 1 Samuel 30:21). His life was marked by love and faith showed in Love.
Jesus emphasized love in the sermon on the mount.( Mathew 5:44). He loved God’s will, His statues ( word), over half of His Psalms are about the perfect word ( Ps 119)
Moreover it is written, love the Lord your God with all heart , body , soul and mind….
It is the heart that commits to God, it is the heart that is the focus of God, that is His main concern.
It is with your heart that you believe and with your mouth you confess that which you have believed.( Roman 10:10 ), our confessions must align with your actions! A man that confesses love lives out his actions!!
1 Samuel 16:7
The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
We can act so spirit filled, tongue speaking, but if our actions don’t align to what is in our hearts, He knows, He sees, and cannot be fooled ( Rev 2:19). We can fool men all we want in putting on a public show and get a good reputation ‘before men’; but God can never be fooled, for this reason Saphira and Ananias received judgement.
Are you a Judas, a full disciple of Christ but a son of perdition, or a Saphira presently serving the Lord but only as a public show, or are you a King Saul, serving the Lord but with contrary intent, unwilling to recorgnise your faults or need for repentance, or the servant Ziba that serves yet intently with personal ambitions ( 2 Samuel 9:2-13) or are you a Jezebel, one that feeds false Prophets and oppresses the people/subjects of the kingdom.
Are we able to say like the Psalmist,
Psalms 26:2-3
²Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.³For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
It’s not about what you want but what pleases the KING. There is nothing you can do to please the king outside who He is. It’s one thing for you to walk with the King and not know who He is, like Joab ( Killed Abner who was against King David’s kingship against the king’s Order.)
Some walk with Him, follow Him, and know Him. There are believers who claim to follow the king but actually don’t know who He is. Do we know who the king is or do we know about the King?
Prophetic Utterance:
Psalm 139:23-24
²³Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
²⁴And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Guiding Text:
Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.