How is your Heart?

This is the letter: 48

Text for the day: Jeremiah 4:4 (Young's Literal Translation)

Be circumcised to Jehovah, and turn aside the foreskins of your heart.

Our Theme for the day: How is your Heart?

Nicodemus held a high position of trust in the Jewish nation in his day. He was highly educated and possessed talents of no ordinary character, and he was an honored member of the national council. This was a position converted by many. Yet with others, he had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus. Though rich, learned, and honored, he had been strangely attracted by the humble teacher of Nazareth. “He greatly desired an interview with Jesus, but shrank from seeking Him openly. It would be too humiliating for a ruler of the Jews to acknowledge himself in sympathy with a teacher as yet so little known. Should his visit come to the knowledge of the Sanhedrin, it would draw upon him their scorn and denunciation. He resolved upon a secret interview, excusing this on the ground that if he were to go openly, others might follow his example. Learning by special inquiry the Saviour's place of retirement in the Mount of Olives, he waited until the city was hushed in slumber, and then sought Him.” {DA 168.2}

Today many are like Nicodemus: They seek truth but need salvation; they want a teacher but require a Saviour. Too many today, their urgent need is not a theoretical knowledge of the word but a spiritual regeneration of the heart. It is the heart that needs fixing. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10) Nicodemus had come to the Lord thinking to enter into a discussion with Him, but Jesus laid bare the foundation principles of truth. Again it is not theoretical knowledge you need said Jesus, but spiritual regeneration. Neither do you need your curiosity satisfied, but to have a new heart. Today there are many cold legal servant leaders who do everything correct like Nicodemus, but never really lead a soul to Jesus.

Today there are many well informed servant leaders, but they have not gone pass the first step of being born again which is to believe. They have not come to the second step which is repentance. Today there are many servant leaders who have forgotten their purpose, which is to make not merely church members, but regenerated creatures through living faith in Christ Jesus. We are not called to make professors of truth only, but people who live by the faith of God and keep His commandments. God has called us to reach the hearts of the hearers, not the emotions have you forgot. Today there are more people than you think that are longing to find the way to Jesus. To you who are called to peach the last message of mercy, exalt Christ as the sinner’s only refuge. Remember the saviour’s words: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)

Finally, Nicodemus received the lesson, and carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures in a new way, not for the discussion of a theory, but in order to receive life for the soul. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as he submitted himself to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus did not for a time publicly acknowledge Jesus at first, but he watched His life, as people are watching your life. He pondered His teachings, as people are pondering your teachings. When Jesus was finally crucified on the cross, Nicodemus remembered the teaching upon Olivet: and saw in Jesus the world's Redeemer. Today there are people looking at you, but the question is what do they see an uplifted Saviour or a hidden Saviour. How is your heart?

We are into our tenth week since starting Garden Ministry, and it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, gardenministry.blogspot.com <http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/>. Every Monday of the seventh week, Garden Ministry would share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So let us look to the next seventh week and ask ourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped me to hold on to my faith, or helped someone Else? Look up and push on in the name of Jesus.

Our Prayer for today:

Please join us as we pray for the right spirit in service for others.

Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.

If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.

These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci

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