Hello, again, I'm Arlen Yoder from the Soulwinnersr.us website. Remember—the angels in heaven rejoice when a loved one or friend gives their heart to Jesus.
The title of my post today is, "GETTING TO THE 'HEART' OF THE MATTER!" Main Point: Jesus was different from the religious leaders of His day in that He reached straight into the hearts of men and women. Can you and I be like Jesus and reach straight into the hearts of our loved ones, friends, and community members?
I’ve always been a softie when it comes to crying at movies, TV shows, and other stories. -They seem to have a way of reaching straight into my heart and causing emotion. Also, when my Dad died in 1980, everything was going along normally during the funeral, but then they started reading my now blind brother’s essay about his relationship with Dad. I lost it. I never had that kind of emotion before or after that time. I wasn’t mourning. Something had reached deep down in my 'HEART'.
I’ve been wondering lately—what causes that emotion in us? I think it’s because our hearts were made by our great creator to see the beauty and wonder in life, which takes us out of ourselves and into the beauty and wonder of God.
Over the Easter holidays, I watched the movie “Jesus of Nazareth”. In it, there were several references to Jesus reaching into people's ‘hearts’. One was where Joseph of Arimathea spoke in defense of Jesus to the Sanhedrin before Jesus was even arrested. I realize that what he said in the movie isn’t found in scripture.
But, I believe it correctly portrays why the masses followed Jesus. He said to his fellow members of the Sanhedrin:
The title of my post today is, "GETTING TO THE 'HEART' OF THE MATTER!" Main Point: Jesus was different from the religious leaders of His day in that He reached straight into the hearts of men and women. Can you and I be like Jesus and reach straight into the hearts of our loved ones, friends, and community members?
I’ve always been a softie when it comes to crying at movies, TV shows, and other stories. -They seem to have a way of reaching straight into my heart and causing emotion. Also, when my Dad died in 1980, everything was going along normally during the funeral, but then they started reading my now blind brother’s essay about his relationship with Dad. I lost it. I never had that kind of emotion before or after that time. I wasn’t mourning. Something had reached deep down in my 'HEART'.
I’ve been wondering lately—what causes that emotion in us? I think it’s because our hearts were made by our great creator to see the beauty and wonder in life, which takes us out of ourselves and into the beauty and wonder of God.
Over the Easter holidays, I watched the movie “Jesus of Nazareth”. In it, there were several references to Jesus reaching into people's ‘hearts’. One was where Joseph of Arimathea spoke in defense of Jesus to the Sanhedrin before Jesus was even arrested. I realize that what he said in the movie isn’t found in scripture.
But, I believe it correctly portrays why the masses followed Jesus. He said to his fellow members of the Sanhedrin:
“How can we guide them if we don’t know what’s in their hearts?" I have seen Him, I’ve heard him preach. His words reach into men’s hearts, not like ours.”Then Nicodemus got up, also to defend Jesus. He said:
"Like our brother Joseph, I’ve heard Him preach. I was moved, lifted out of myself, and seemed to see all things in a new and blinding light. I was aware of wonders, signs, that God may be with Him, and through Him with us.”
Again, I realize that what they said in the movie isn’t in scripture, even though the movie quoted a lot of scripture. But again, I believe it correctly portrays why the people followed and loved Jesus, even the children. I believe it’s the essence of the Gospel. That men’s hearts need to be reached into, to allow change to come about!
In Biblical terms, one internet citation defined the ‘heart’ as representing “the center of one's being, encompassing emotions, will, and intellect”.
There are 685 references to the 'hearts' of mankind in the Christian Standard Bible. I think that vast number alone should tell us something about how important the hearts of men and women are to reach them for Jesus. Let’s look at a few of them:
There are 685 references to the 'hearts' of mankind in the Christian Standard Bible. I think that vast number alone should tell us something about how important the hearts of men and women are to reach them for Jesus. Let’s look at a few of them:
- Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
- Ephesians 1:18: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.”
- Acts 16:14: “The Lord opened Lydia's heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.”
- Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to those with broken hearts and saves the crushed in spirit.”
- Hebrews 4:12: “The Word of God is active and pierces to the division of soul and spirit, penetrating the heart.”
- Hebrews 10:16: “This is the covenant that I will make with them, after that time, says the Lord, I will put my laws in their hearts…”
- Romans 10:9 is the salvation verse: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
- And who can ever forget the greatest commandment found in Matthew 22:37? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
I’m not sure, like Jesus did, how we can reach into the hearts of our loved ones, friends, and people in the community. I know we can’t do it with our own power.
I think with all MY ‘HEART’ that we need to cry out to Jesus and His Holy Spirit to reach into ‘OUR HEARTS’ to give each of us inspiration on how to reach ‘THEIR HEARTS’. I think then, and only then, do we have a chance of "GETTING TO THE ‘HEART’ OF THE MATTER!
I think with all MY ‘HEART’ that we need to cry out to Jesus and His Holy Spirit to reach into ‘OUR HEARTS’ to give each of us inspiration on how to reach ‘THEIR HEARTS’. I think then, and only then, do we have a chance of "GETTING TO THE ‘HEART’ OF THE MATTER!
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