Our Heart's Desires
In our series on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5, we are beginning where Jesus began, i.e., by looking at our inner lives. In his opening statements of what brings God's approval (blessing), Jesus declared three inner character traits:.
Poor in spirit – Acknowledging your utter dependence on God for all things, especially forgiveness and righteousness.
Mourn – Possessing a deep sorrow for your own sin, and the sin and injustice in the world.
Meek – Turning from self and commitment to use whatever God gives to serve.
When those inner traits are true of us, they flow into shaping our deepest longings. That's what Jesus addresses in his next four "beatitudes". He will ask of us, "What do you long for most in this world?" As you prepare to worship with God's people this weekend, reflect on those heart's desires that Jesus says should be most important:
• That those things wrong in my life and in this world will be made right,
• That I will show the same kind of mercy to others that God shows to me,
• That I will be single-minded in seeking to please God rather than myself, anyone else, or anything else, and
• That I will be one who heals broken relationships.
“Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.”
-Dr. Pierce
Dr. Bob Pierce was a war correspondent who traveled to China with Youth for Christ in 1947. On that trip, Bob's heart was broken when he was confronted with the need of one little girl whom he longed to know God's blessing. That inner longing led Dr. Pierce to begin World Vision to help children who had been orphaned. In a few years, to provide long-term, ongoing care for children in crisis, World Vision developed its first child sponsorship program in Korea in 1953. As children began to flourish through sponsorship in Korea, the program expanded into other Asian countries and eventually into Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
I love Dr. Pierces oft-quoted statement.
To His Glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
