Young People's Group

H.E.A.R.T. Matters

by Mitchell Tan
December 31, 2020

GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART

As we come the end of a most challenging year for many of us, it is good to review our lives. One of the ways to do that is to look at our hearts. Have our hearts changed much since Youth Conference 2020? Very often, we tend to look at outward matters like how we look and what kind of person we are in the eyes of man. Pastor was teaching us at the conference from the Scriptures concerning how the Lord looks at our hearts.

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

The Lord is omniscient. He is able to see right into our hearts with reference to our feelings and our choices. He is able to see what kind of heart we have. It is good for us to evaluate our hearts based on what God is really looking for in a relationship with Him.

THE KIND OF H.E.A.R.T-FELT RELATIONSHIP THAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR

“The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart”
1 Samuel 13:14

God saw in David a man after His own heart. What does this entail in a person? Pastor used H.E.A.R.T. as an acronym for us to work with.

1. H – HOLINESS OF GOD, HOLY SPIRIT’S PART

God is holy and those who relate to Him must also seek to be holy. This is where the Spirit of God can help us to be holy. The Lord is looking for a heart that seeks to be holy before Him.

2. E – GOD IS ETERNAL, ENDURING RELATIONSHIP

God is also eternal. He wants us to have an enduring relationship with Him. He wants us to have a “heart to heart” relationship that can last. Young people, do you have such a relationship with God?

3. A – GOD COMING ALONGSIDE US, APPRECIATION OF GOD’S HELP

“A” stands for God coming alongside His people to relate with them. He has not left them alone. The Lord was a great source of help to David. He was there to help him on numerous occasions. David had a heart of deep appreciation and thanksgiving to God. This was reflected in his many psalms.

4. R – REVELATION, RECEIVING OF THE WORD

The heart can receive the word of God readily and hold fast to it. David held fast to the words revealed to him from Him. The Lord can also reveal His word to us as we listen to it well.

5. T – TRUE-HEARTED

The Lord God has been true to us in our lives. Our response is to be true to Him in return and to keep His word. We are to be true-hearted in all that we do for Him.

LEARNING TO BE A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

As the year ends, most of us will admit that we do not have such a heart. It would be good to look at the areas where are we lacking. Let’s consider how we can correct and strengthen the areas where we are weak. Let’s seek to work on them further for the New Year and pray that we will take steps to become that person after God’s own heart; one who will fear Him and serve Him in truth with all our hearts.

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