August 21 - Search The Heart.

Jeremiah 17:10
“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
 
When investigating to find the truth of a matter, most detective start with the visual evidence before them. They evaluate each and every piece of material left behind. They can only search out what they see. 
 
The Lord works in a completely different way. 
While men look on the outward appearance of things to determine the truth, He looks upon our hearts. He sees what you and I cannot see. 
 
1 Samuel 16:7
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
 
He looks beyond the façade that we create and portray to those around us. 
He looks straight into the heart of our souls.
 
On their own, the state of our hearts is quite depressing.
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
 
We are desperately wicked on our own. 
Yet, we have the option of trading our deceitfulness for His righteousness.
 
After salvation, He searches our hearts according to our fruit.
 
Who our hearts trust in determines the fruit of our lives.
We have only two choices…
 
Trust in People
Jeremiah 17:5-6
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.”
 
Trust in the Lord
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
 
What a clear difference there is in these outcomes, and it all depends on Who we choose to trust. 
 
Search your heart today.
Evaluate who your trusting.
The best way to truly know this is to simply examine the fruit of your life.
 
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
 
Use the mirror of the Word of God to show the intentions of your heart today.
 
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Job 23-24   |    1 John 4