June 2, 2021 (Wednesday)
I am still not completely well, and so I attended church last Sunday online. It was good seeing Allen Ray Moers directing the choir and leading the singing once again in the absence of Marcie, and it was wonderful hearing our pastor, Dr. Scott Jones, bring a message from 1 Samuel 16.
When I heard him read verse 7 of the text, “the Lord looks at the heart,” suddenly all sorts of thoughts entered my mind. As we all do, I listened well to the sermon, at the same time thinking about many implications of that verse. I suppose other retired preachers do the same thing as they attend worship services. It’s in our blood; during our active days in the ministry, we were always thinking about new sermons.
I asked myself, “What does the Lord see when he looks into my heart?”
The Scripture in 1 Samuel had a direct application to the boy, David, who would become King of Israel, later to be known as “a man after God’s own heart,” meaning David wanted what God wanted.
Do I want what God wants? I can lie to myself, wanting to believe the best about my obedience to God, but God sees what is in my heart no matter what I really believe and no matter what I may be doing that is commendable. Hopefully, I can honestly say that I want whatever God wants for me to be and to become. Is that what you want? There are times when God is not pleased with what He sees, just as there were times when God was displeased with David. But, like David, we can repent, rededicating ourselves to the Lord and renewing our love for Him.
God loves us and wants the best for us as His children. Since He wants the best for us, are we willing to give Him the best that we can give?
HAVE I DONE MY BEST FOR JESUS?
Words: E. Edwin Young
Music: Harry E. Storrs
1923
1 I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,
Who died upon the cruel tree?
To think of His great sacrifice at Calv’ry!
I know my Lord expects the best from me.
Refrain:
How many are the lost that I have lifted?
How many are the chained I’ve helped to free?
I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,
When He has done so much for me?
2 The hours that I have wasted are so many,
The hours I’ve spent for Christ so few;
Because of all my lack of love for Jesus,
I wonder if His heart is breaking too. [Refrain]
3 I wonder, have I cared enough for others,
Or have I let them die alone?
I might have helped a wand’rer to the Savior,
The seed of precious Life I might have sown. [Refrain]
4 No longer will I stay within the valley,
I’ll climb to mountain heights above;
The world is dying now for want of someone
To tell them of the Savior’s matchless love. [Refrain]
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT).