The Heart of Jesus
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 2:6
We are being molded by God to the image of his Son so we can reflect Jesus to the world. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… (Romans 8:29) All those who accept Christ are the foreknown and we are predestined to conform the image of Jesus.
What does it take for us to live a life molded after Jesus? The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. (John 8:29) Jesus’ relationship to the Father is a model of our relationship to Christ. Jesus always did what pleases the Father, we strive to do what pleases Christ, and we do this by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
We live to reflect the heart of Christ because our hearts are filled with his love. Love changes our hearts and we live out of our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) Love is the only thing that takes focus off of self and places it on God and others. Our motivation to bring Christ to the world depends on the magnitude of God’s love that is in our hearts. Our love cannot reach perfection like Jesus’ love, but we can always have more love in our hearts.
If we have the heart of Jesus, we are motivated to bring Christ to lost souls, not just those in our local church but every soul we can reach. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37) As we approach end times, the harvest is plentiful, and each Christian is motivated to bring Christ to lost souls. We pray for the Lord to open a door to ministry no matter what the situation life brings.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8) If our hearts are filled with God’s love, then we know God because God is love. It’s love that truly connects us to the Lord. The more love we have in our hearts, the closer we are to the Lord. Love not only motivates us, it makes us dependent on the Lord. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.(John 5:19 NASB) It’s God’s love in our hearts that puts us in a pleasing relationship with the Lord.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17) Love motivates us to action just as the Father was motivated to save us through Christ. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18 NASB) Love gives us faith and overcomes fear and complacency.
Today pray the Lord fills your heart with his love and opens a door to bring the good news of Christ to searching souls. If we are alive, the Lord will use us to further his Kingdom.
Prayer: Lord, guide me to further your Kingdom and open a door for ministry to this lost world. Continue to fill my heart with more of your love so I can approach the heart of Jesus. In Christ’s name, Amen