What is the heart?
The heart is the spiritual core of our being where our emotions and desires dwell (not the physical heart), it also comprise of our conscience (1 John3:20). To show its importance it is mentioned up to 1,000 times in the bible and the bible also records that God has a heart – Acts 13:22, I Samuel 2:35 and Jeremiah 3:15. So it means the heart is very important to God. In essence, we have a heart because God also has a heart.
Why is the heart important?
The heart is important because it is the control center of our being where our relationship with God stems from – Mark 12:30. It is from the heart that we receive salvation – Romans 10: 9-10. Before we encounter the Lord, the disposition of our heart is towards the natural man that is our normal rebellious and sinful nature – Jeremiah 17:9, Genesis 6:5. In this state, most times we do not acknowledge God nor his ways but believe that our ways are right and that we are in control of our destiny – Psalm 53: 1- 3, 4; Isaiah 53:6.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you will agree with me that before you came to salvation, you mainly played by your rules assuming your decisions were best particularly for your self preservation and success. This is because our normal heart due to its fallen nature is corrupt by sin (Satan) and no longer obeys God, Gen 3, it is utterly rebellious towards God and his ways Romans 3:10-18. This heart cannot please God – Romans 8:6-8.
It was not until God did his work of salvation in our lives that we came to know differently – Romans 3:21-23, 24-26. By persistently knocking on the door of our hearts, and upon us yielding to his call do we receive salvation and our hearts are renewed and reunited with God Rev 3:20. Even still it is always a struggle to accept the will of God over ours – Romans 7:18-19, 20-23.
So our hearts are very important to God as it is through the heart that God calls us to repentance and it is the heart that believes in him. So it is in the heart and through the heart that a human being receives salvation and lives a saved life with the help of the Holy Spirit of God.
What does being fruitful mean?
Fruitfulness or being fruitful literally means what comes out of our lives, the kind of behavior we exhibit. This is because the kind of fruits we exhibit or our lifestyle is a direct result of our hearts. If we follow the natural man that is corrupt, we can only bear corrupt fruits – Matthew 15:19; Galatians 5:19-20. But on the other hand, if we have surrendered our lives to Christ and allowing him to rule our lives by clinging to him (John15:1) then our heart become like the good soil that bears fruits – Matthew 13:23; Galatians 5:22-23.
When you allow the Lord to lead you and become the master of your heart, your life and your choices (your fruits) begin to reflect that of Jesus Christ and you become his disciple indeed John8:31-32. This is because Godly fruitfulness begins with the Holy Spirit sanctifying our hearts. As a result, the inner fruits he bears in us will naturally reflect on the outside in our lives as well – Galatians 5:22-23. People will know you are different as your actions and activities will begin to naturally glorify God as he gradually transforms you into the image of his son – Romans 8:29. Then naturally, our works too will reflect our inner heart posture – Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:7, Colossians 1:10.
So would you like to have a fruitful heart today? If you are reading this blog, know that it is not by accident and that God almighty desires to know you. Perhaps you have not accepted Jesus as savior and Lord, then permit me to share this truth with you, that for God so loved the world (you and I) that he gave Jesus, his son to die for us, and if we accept him, then we will have eternal life and bear good fruits for him, but if we reject him there is only judgement and complete separation from God (John 3:16-18).
My dear friend if you feel a tug on your heart, that is the Lord calling you, please do not neglect or reject him instead say this simple prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me of my sins, I accept you and would like to know you. Please come into my heart and help me accept you as my savior and Lord in Jesus name, amen.
If you have said this prayer, then know that you are born again and welcome to the family of God, the biggest family there is. Please be in touch and also try and find a bible based church that can help you start and continue this great journey. May the Lord bless you and keep you and help you to know him more. God bless you for you are greatly loved.