THE HEART TEST, No. 1c

Men, there is a big difference between doing the will of God out of a sense of duty and doing it out of a heart that delights to do His will. It is our duty to seek to know God's will for our lives, and having discovered that knowledge, to do it. Duty demands we do it. It is not wrong in itself. However, David not only had a sense of duty to do God's will but a heart that delighted to do it. This is what pleases our Father God.

There are those who give to the cause of Christ, and those who give CHEERFULLY to His cause. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a CHEERFUL GIVER."

We need to ask ourselves the question: As a father, am I serving the Lord as a father by leading my family out of duty? Or am I doing it cheerfully and with delight?

The words of Psalm 40:6- 8 are spoken prophetically of Jesus: "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire: mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I DELIGHT TO DO THY WILL, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."

It is not that our Father has no pleasure in sacrifice and offerings for Romans 12:1, 2 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. We are also told in Hebrews 13:16 (ESV): "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." However, when we drag our feet and don't show a willing heart, it gives God no pleasure. It was a drag and a bother for Saul to do the will of God completely, resulting in only partial obedience. But partial obedience is disobedience (1 Samuel 15:20-23).

David's heart was the heart was the heart God was looking for, the heart that delights to do the will of God (Psalm 40:8).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell