GOD LOOKS AT HEARTS AND WORKS

GOD LOOKS AT HEARTS AND WORKS

The Bible says: “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).” And it says, “It is by grace” you are saved, “not by works” that appear to be godly (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 3:5). Yet, those who have been saved having a truly repentant heart, have a mind to do good works of producing “the fruit of the Spirit” (Matthew 3:8; Galatians 5:22-23).

LOOKING AT THE HEART

The Lord Jesus Christ looked at the hearts of two criminals who were crucified with the him. One of the criminals failed to recognize his sins or Jesus as Savior. The other thief acknowledged his sins and Christ as the Son of God. The Lord, who knows all hearts, told the one who recognized him as the Son of God and repented of his sins, “today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:33-43).

In dying the repentant sinner had no opportunity to do good works; but the Word of God says, “if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).

However, “to whom much has been given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

LOOKING AT HEARTS AND WORKS

In a case where Jesus was comparing the heart and works, he told us about two men who went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee prayed; “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

However, the tax collector, not believing himself worthy to lift his eyes to heaven, prayed: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Jesus said the tax collector, who saw himself as a sinner was justified in the eyes of God, rather than the self-righteous Pharisee who boasted of his good works. (Luke 18:9-14).

The Word of God says: “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

The Lord told Pharisees who boasted of their good works, “you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” (Luke 11:42). “For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

LOOKING AT OUR HEARTS AND WORKS

The Bible says, God who looks at our hearts, will judge our hearts and works (Jeremiah 17:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Because of his love and concern for us, he tells us we should first examine ourselves in light of his Word so that we do not be condemned (1 Corinthians 11:31). Each of us might start by asking ourselves the following Bible-based questions .

Have I honestly seen myself as a sinner as God’s says in his biblical Word (Romans 3:10, 23)?
Have I truly believed in Jesus Christ for salvation, repenting of my sins and turning to God, performing deeds in keeping with repentance (John 3:16; Acts 26:20)?
Do I have a heart’s desire to be conformed to the likeness of the Son of God (Romans 8:29)?
How well do I, with the help of the Holy Spirit, “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8)?—”The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23.)
Do I Work for the Lord God by telling and demonstrating by my life to unsaved people that Jesus can save them from their sins; and that he can give them the Holy Spirit to live “life abundantly” in loving and working for the Lord (Mark 16:15-16; John 10:10)?—And that this life leading to eternal life with God in heaven (John 14:2-3)?

When God looks at our hearts and works, each of us should want him to see that we did what he said: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27). Even love others as Christ has loved you (John 14:15).