Wednesday, June 1, 2011

A Genuine Heart

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Below are 9 marks of a genuine heart for Christian living and ministry in Romans 1:8-15. As I read these verses I saw areas where I needed improvement. We all fall short of the Glory of God yet we should always have a desire to grow in our walks with the Lord. Salvation is not based upon how good we become or how many good works we do; it is based upon Jesus and what He has done. That being said, "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:20)



A Thankful Heart

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. (Romans 1:8)

Am I thankful when I see others with strong faith and making a difference for Christ?



A Concerned Heart

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, (Romans 1:9)

Do I pray for the ministry of others that they stand strong in the faith and the Lord’s protection upon them from evil? Am I truly concerned for them?



A Willing and Submissive Heart

making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. (Romans 1:10)

Am I willing to go where the Lord sends me and do as He instructs me? Remember Jonah?



A Loving Heart

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— (Romans 1:11)



Do I have a heart’s desire to be among other believers and help them grow in their walks with the Lord?



A Humble Heart

that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. (Romans 1:12)



Am I encouraged by the mutual faith of other believers? A prideful heart wants to be first and to be seen.




A Fruitful Heart

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. (Romans 1:13)



Do I have a heart to see people come to the Lord and be saved? Do I desire to see other believers bear much fruit? Do I myself want to bear much fruit?



An Obedient Heart

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. (Romans 1:14)



Do I obey the Lord and walk in the good works the He has laid before me?
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)



An Eager Heart

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. (Romans 1:15)



Do I share the Gospel when opportunity arises? Am I ready and willing to go and serve the Lord? Or do I prefer to lie around on the couch watching TV or doing whatever my thing is?



A Confessing Heart

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16)



Do I confess the Lord when I am around people who think the cross is foolishness and those who believe are weird? Does words that glorify Him proceed out of my mouth?





All scripture is from the NKJV

14 comments:

  1. Thanks, Ken, for the reminders. It's really not easy bein' a Christian. God bless.

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  2. This is an excellent post of the kind of heart a Christian has. We are all in varying degrees of growth and maturity, but it is always good to know what the goal is.

    Thank you Ken for taking time to write this.

    Blessings
    Lidj

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  3. I love how you layed this out Ken, very beautifully. This one I need to meditate on.....

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  4. Hi Ken,
    Great post.

    I am learning something that is very hard and humbling. The more I learn about who God is the more I want to be like Him. The ball rolls, then I realize how horrible I really am then this becomes cleaned up then I find out more about who God is and I find I am going deeper and deeper into Him and I realize there is so much about me that needs to be changed. So I give this to Him and He changes it and it hurts because it is self that is being stripped away from me.

    I believe this is be an on going never ending process for He is never ending.

    Just today, I had to give up more of self for Him. Hard to do but I know the rewards will be amazing but in the mean time I am sitting here raw and very sore, yet He is faithful.

    Blessings,
    <><

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  5. Great post. There are definitely things on that list that I need to work on. Makes me very thankful for God's mercy and grace.

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  6. Nine...that is my favorite number. Nine gifts of the Spirit, Nine Fruits of the Spirit...and I love your 9 marks of a genuine heart. He looks at our hearts, not the outward appearance, and discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts (Heb. 4:12) He gives us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4). We are to love Him with our WHOLE heart. Good stuff, Ken, you got me really thinking.

    Incidentally, I was married in the 9th month of the 99th year, and my daughter was born on the 9th. So yeah, I love the number 9! :)

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  7. Clint- I agree, being a Christian is not easy but I would not trade it for anything.

    Lidj- Yes it is and we will press on toward the upward calling...

    Lori- It is definitely good to meditate on what God has given us here in Romans.

    Child of God- Me too, there is so much that need to be changed with me. Praise God, He keeps bringing change and growth.

    Lisa- I too am very thankful for His mercy and grace.

    Kimberly- Pretty cool with all the nine's. Sooo much also can be said about the heart too.

    Thank you everyone for visiting my blog and leaving your comments. I am always encouraged by them.

    May God bless each of you,
    Ken

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  8. Thanks for this post. This will serve as a challenge for me. I need to work on several things on this list. God bless you.

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  9. You are welcome JT. I too need to work on some of these.
    Blessings
    Ken

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  10. Hi Ken -

    Thank you for this rich message.

    Especially, I love this that you expressed, "We all fall short of the Glory of God yet we should always have a desire to grow in our walks with the Lord."

    A hearty Amen to that, Ken.

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  11. Hi again Ken -

    You may be interested in viewing some photos that I posted of the annual ROLLING THUNDER cyclist event in Washington, DC to honor soldiers.

    If you are so inclined, you can view them on my photo blog
    Photogplaza.blogspot.com - please note that it is PhotoGplaza NOT
    PhotOplaza. Thank you, Ken.

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  12. That was a truly wonderful post. Very good to remember Who we serve and what our Christian walk should look like. Thank you!

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  13. What provoking questions, hitting us square in the eye. Thank you for being honest in challenging all of us with what entered our mind and hearts.

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  14. Sandra- Thank you. I also visited your Photogplaza blog and enjoyed my visit.

    Emily- Yes it is very good to remember Who we serve and what we should look like.

    Brenda- These questions were also a challenge to me. We need to examine our hearts and minds.

    Thank you everyone for your comments and your visit to my blog.

    May the Lord bless each of you,
    Ken

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