Actions reveal my heart

Leviticus 13; Psalms 15–16; Proverbs 27; 2 Thessalonians 1

Trials tend to bring out the true character of those who experience them. This morning, the news featured a few accounts of those who are using this pandemic to try and line their own pockets. Imagine robbing the cars of those visiting loved ones in the hospital or stealing a warehouse full of medical supplies to sell to the highest bidder. Imagine having the virus and spitting in the face of police or medical personal. What does this reveal about those who do such things?

This morning, a friend sent me a virtual Easter card that was not about bunnies and eggs but about the glory of the empty tomb. I’m not sure if this friend is a Christian but what does this card reveal about her heart? Yesterday a neighbor put a package of medical masks on our doorstep. I don’t know her spiritual state, but what does this reveal about her?

The NT uses actions to evaluate the heart. Saying I believe is not enough. Showing that I believe is important. While the thief on the cross had no time to do anything, obedience to God’s commands is important — not to earn salvation but to reveal that God has visited the heart and done something there that shows up in life.

For instance, Paul says in one of his letters that the life of the recipients reveals that they are in the kingdom of God and showing evidence of it. This is not their own doing but Christ is working in their hearts.

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:3–12)

It is God who makes people worthy, His power resulting in every good work of faith. He is bringing glory to Himself and marveled at by all who believe. For that, I am to always pray for my Christian family. Their lives are evidence of faith and bring glory to the God in whom they trust.

APPLY: I can pray for those who disobey God and who show their sinfulness, sometimes in horrifying ways. However, the commands to do that are conspicuously absent. The Word of God tells me to pray for the people of God. He wants us to stand together, not only in our battle against personal sin but in the desire to glorify Jesus Christ by living by faith and by His grace. I am not to rely on the flesh or any selfish or worldly notions, particularly during this pandemic trial, but walk by faith, reminding others that Jesus will come one day, taking care of all who have mocked goodness and enjoyed sin, and reveal to everyone that He is Lord of all. The best reminders are those whose lives reflect His grace and power.