It’s a matter of the heart

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Living with joy”

Our Bible verse for today: “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose … everyone should look out not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:1-2;4 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “It’s a matter of the heart”

Let’s continue our thinking from yesterday regarding our quest to become truly humble followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ultimately, it’s a matter of the heart. What Paul was describing in this passage is an effort made by the individual to shape your thinking and behavior in such a way that you will begin to become humbler. This is a matter of how you think about yourself and how you act towards other people. But again, this is tricky stuff because we can’t actually “do” anything to make ourselves humble. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit to develop the spiritual virtue of humility in us. But we can do things that make us more open to the work the Spirit wants to do in us.

Paul begins in verse one by describing the observable effect the Holy Spirit will have on individuals and in a group when He is allowed to rule and reign in their lives. There will be observable love, unity, affection, and mercy. That’s what the Spirit does in us, through us, and with us. So then in verse two Paul encourages us to participate in that – to be loving and unified and affectionate and merciful.

Then in verses three and four he provides us with specific instructions for intentional actions we can take to make sure that we are doing and being those things. He writes that we should allow no sense of rivalry or conceit to drive our thinking, speaking, or actions. Instead, we are to make a decision and take the necessary actions to put others before ourselves, and to give careful thought to the interests and needs of other people.

As I said, we cannot make ourselves humble. It’s the Holy Spirit slowly molding and shaping our hearts who makes us genuinely and sincerely humble. But there are things we can do that will help the process along. So even if we don’t feel like it, even if we are not genuinely concerned for others, and even if we are not really thinking of their interests as being more important than our own, if we intentionally act that way anyway, simply as a matter of obedience because the Bible tells us to do it, the Holy Spirit will use that thinking and those actions to accelerate our development in this area. If you act in humility often enough, eventually you will really become what it was you had only been mimicking up to that point.

When it comes to preparing your heart so that the Holy Spirit can mold you and shape you into a person who is genuinely humble, we commit these things to God in prayer, and then we conduct ourselves in the way He wants us to act towards others. The Holy Spirit will use that to bring about the changes in us that need to occur. When that happens, you will be a more joyful person and you will bring joy to others as well.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of the heart.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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