There's More Out There: His heart, a necessity

I remember it like it was yesterday, one of the most important and influential things that I have ever been taught in my Christian walk-God's heart for people.

We were gearing up for my first ever mission trip to Peru in 2003, under the leadership of Dennis & Vicki White. They shared with us that we must have God's heart, that we must see people the way that God sees them. I have never forgot that and who knows how many times I have shared it. You see, as we go deeper with Him on our journey to "more," obviously, we will continue to get closer to His heart, and His heart is people.

How much does that come intro contradiction with the world, though? Well, it should. The closer we get to Him, the more unlike the world we will appear, in every aspect. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." His heart, yep you guessed it, part of the "new."

Last time, I shared about "soaking," or getting before Him in a place of quiet devotion. When we are in that place, He ministers to us in an unbelievable way and out of that flows many things, one is His heart. What or who we're around affects us, for the positive or the negative. I remember before I was introduced to my friend Scottie, I really never liked Barq's Root Beer, kayaking or night swimming in questionable waters, but the more we hung out, the more I enjoyed the things that he enjoyed. The negative is also true, though, many people are being affected negatively by hanging out with people of questionable character. Remember 1 Corinthians 15:33? "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.'" All in all, the more time that is spent in His presence and the more we think on Him, the more we become like Him, and one aspect is our possession of His heart.

So, what does that look like? Well, throughout history we have seen that He loves with an unimaginable love. He searches people out, He longs for people, He is not willing that any should perish, He will leave the 99 to go after the one, He reconciles men to Him, etc. Then, in 2 Corinthians 5:19 we find out that He has left this work of reconciliation (or restoration) to us! We know that "He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)," and He has left us with the great task of bringing all to Him; however, how should we undertake that? In our own strength? I'm sure that we've all tried that, but it doesn't work. Under the leadership, direction and power of the Holy Spirit we undertake it, but with what motivation? His motivation, His heart. He is looking for a few (well, many) good women and men (Psalm 14:2) who will take on His love for people and His heart.

Practical steps (I hear you already)? First, time with Him, like actual time with Him in His presence. Ask Him to reveal His heart to you, He already does that in His Word many times, so that is the next step-seek out the Scriptures with a purpose of seeing His plan and heart. Ask Him to speak names of people to you, for dreams and visions. Are you ready for this next one? Love those who hate you, that's not from me, it's from Matthew 5:44. It's easy to "have His heart" for those you like, take it up a notch. Proverbs 19:11 says that it is to your credit to overlook an offense. Forgive and love. Take actual steps to love and serve, try different venues and God will guide you into His plan for you. Lastly, just change your perception and outlook. With His heart, that aggravating, "good 'fer nothin," family member becomes the one that God sent His Son for, etc. That doesn't mean that you condone everyone's actions, but it does mean that you go out of your way to love, minister and share God with them in unbelievable ways. His heart aches for people, so should ours. When was the last time you wept over someone or a situation, and cried out to God over it? Let's get involved on a deep level.

He is ready to help, provide and equip. Seek Him like never before, and see people the way that God sees them. God is on a full-scale rescue mission, and has been, that is how He looks at people. To be a part of His crew is to be about the same things. There's more out there...

“'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, likeit, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." -Mark 12:30-31 (NKJV)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them." -Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV)


'Til they all hear, Eric Lovin

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