Sep 11

How will God know who has his heart set on loving Him and who really comes to Him wanting only his gifts? How can God know what is in a person's heart?First of all, of course, God is God; he knows everything. This is true, but it does not satisfy someone who does not believe in God. So what else can be said regarding this?

Proverbs 20:27 says that "the lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being."

What is this "lamp of the Lord"? What is it that has the power to do such a seemingly impossible task as to probe the depths of the human heart and reveal all that is within it?

It is the Word of God itself. Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and active, able even to divide the soul from the spirit. There are no depths which are beyond the reach of the Spirit of God that lives in the Word of God.

Psalm 139:8 says that even if a person were to try to hide his heart's secrets from God by fleeing to the reaches of outer space, the heavens, or by resting in death and the depths of the dead, God is still there and would "find" him.

The Word of God speaks to the depths of every human heart, believer and unbeliever alike. The atheist cannot hide from its soul-searching power. It has power to kill and make alive. It is no coincidence that the Scriptures for today therefore say that the Word of God shall slay the wicked.

Scripture for today: Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:15-21
Thought for today: The Word of God is a sword that kills the wicked and brings life to the righteous.
Prayer for today: Lord, so change my heart that I never have to have your Word slay me in judgment but only kill any evil desires hidden in my heart.

SEP 11