You Know Their Hearts

You Know Their Hearts

Acts 1:24

And they prayed and said, “You O, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two you have chosen.

It’s so hard to tell who people really are. You can be in relationship for years with someone and not get a true revelation on who they are. Many times because we are stuck on outer appearance or outer accomplishments we miss the heart. God told Samuel when he was looking for Israel’s next king, he was looking the wrong way. He went to all the tall and handsome sons of Jesse but it was a short, ruddy David that God wanted to anoint. Samuel said, “Man looks at the outside but God looks at the heart.”

Jesus was able to discern a person for who they were by listening to their words because out of the heart the mouth speaks. People are not going to be able to hide around you because eventually their mouth will tell you who they are.

Peter and the apostles were trying to replace Judas with a new apostle but with a different spirit. We need to be careful replacing people with the same people. Systems theory says that when you remove an “aggressive rat” from a pack of rats another “aggressive rat” will take his place. That’s why so many people in bad relationships end up marrying the same abusive person because they don’t take the time to look at the heart.

Peter prayed to God to look at the two prospects and examine their hearts so God could pick the right one.

This past week President Obama’s cabinet selections were going through intense committee hearings to be asked tough questions about their character. One committee chairman Senator Max Baucus said “I am disappointed in the errors found in Tim Geithner's tax returns and other information, but I am satisfied that Mr Geithner has taken the steps necessary to fix these problems. The president needs a Treasury secretary on day one. We have to roll up our sleeves and get this economy moving again for the American people, and Tim Geithner has the right combination of experience and skill for these difficult economic times."

Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer also defended Mr Geithner: "Tim came to the committee, admitted he had made some mistakes and was very contrite." One Senator said, “I find it implausible that you did not stop to think that, “I’m doing this the wrong way.” He said I want to understand your mindset. “ In other words he wanted to know what kind of person are you really? Let me look at your heart. Can we trust you to lead this country or will you jeopardize the President and this country?

Before you select your cabinet you need to :

1. Pray. God will reveal to you in your quiet time who to trust and who not to trust.

2. Vet them, do your research into their background. People can lie about their resume.

3. Get some wise people to cross examine the people you are thinking about bringing in your life.

Dear God please search the hearts of the people closest to me. Don’t let me be in relationship with anybody who’s heart isn’t right. Don’t let me be hoodwinked by smooth talk and fake smiles. Search my heart and if you find anything deceptive or defective, take it out. Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.