Lewis makes a profound point that we need to remember. God doesn’t call us to just follow a set of rules or commandments; he calls us to have a heart that fears him and wants to live all of life in a way that glorifies him. He wants Christians who are humble in heart, which leads to humble living. He wants Christians who fear him, which leads to holy living. He wants Christians who are wise, which leads to choices that honor him. He wants Christians who are self-controlled at heart, which leads to self-controlled living. He wants Christians who are truthful and just, which leads to honest living. He wants Christians who are courageous at heart, which leads to boldly living for God.
So easily we can want God, our pastors, our parents, our coaches, or our teachers to give us a list of things to do and a list of things to not do. In the short run this may look easy, but in reality this it is extremely difficult to make humble choices if we are not humble in heart or wise choices if we are not wise or self-controlled choices if we are not self-controlled in heart. This type of living is exhausting and drudgery.
God is looking for us to cultivate Christian qualities in our hearts, deep down within us, part of our core. And when we do, we will find living the Christian live is joyful, easier, and more fulfilling because it is more the natural outflow of our love for God.
What do you focus on – your particular actions or your heart? Commit today to focus on your heart first and then the actions the flow out of it.
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