Where Is Your Heart? Aligning Our Lives with the Teaching of Jesus

 


Where Is Your Heart? Aligning Our Lives with the Teaching of Jesus

We often hear that the primary purpose of our lives is to bring glory to God. But have you ever stopped to ask: Does my daily life actually reflect that purpose?

Jesus was very specific about the actions and attitudes we should possess as His adopted children. It isn’t just about what we do within the four walls of a church; it’s about how our speech, our motives, and our priorities shift when we encounter the grace of Christ.

The Power of a Changed Life

Research shows that 70% to 80% of people who visit a church do so because they were invited by someone they know. But here is the tough question: If going to church hasn’t changed our attitude or our actions, why would the person we invite want to come?

If our lives look exactly like the world’s—filled with the same anxieties, the same speech patterns, and the same focus on temporary things—our "invitation" loses its power. Our lives are meant to draw people to Christ, not just to a building or a schedule.

The Heart vs. The Outward Appearance

It is easy to fall into one of two traps:

  1. The "Heart is Right" Excuse: We excuse poor attitudes or unkind speech by saying, "Well, my heart is in the right place."
  2. The Pharisee Trap: We have the "proper" outward actions, but our hearts are cold and disconnected from God.

Jesus challenged both. He calls us to a life where the "wellspring" (the heart) and the "stream" (our actions) are both pure.

Servant Faith vs. Child Faith

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, famously described a progression in the believer's life that changes everything:

  • The Faith of a Servant: Driven by duty, fear, or a desire to earn God’s favor. It is about "doing" to be accepted.
  • The Faith of a Child: Driven by a personal, loving relationship. It is a faith characterized by obedience that flows out of gratefulness because we are already accepted and loved.

When we live with the "faith of a child," we don’t obey to get God to love us; we obey because He already does.

What Are You Storing Up?

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus gives us divine advice on handling the anxieties of life:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Jesus isn't saying it’s wrong to have a savings account or a retirement plan. He is warning us against making wealth the complete motivation for our lives. When we put our hope in uncertain riches (1 Timothy 6:17), we open the door to "many griefs."

What exactly is "Treasure in Heaven"?

It isn't gold bars in a celestial vault. It is the eternal impact of a life lived for God:

  • Acts of love, mercy, and obedience.
  • Generosity to the needy (Luke 12:33).
  • Hidden faithfulness and sacrifices made in Jesus' name.
  • Sharing the Gospel with those who are lost.

These are the only investments that cannot be stolen, corrupted, or destroyed.

What’s You Looking At?

Jesus used a fascinating illustration: "The eye is the lamp of the body." In Jewish thought, the eye was the window to the soul.

Think of it like driving a car: Where your eyes go, the car follows. If you stare at the ditch long enough, you will eventually drive into it.

  • If your focus is on bank accounts, property values, and status, your life will move toward darkness and anxiety.
  • If your focus is on the Father and His eternal kingdom, your life will be full of light.

Turning Our Eyes Upon Jesus

As the old hymn says, when we turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, the things of earth grow "strangely dim."

Living as an adopted child of God means choosing—every single day—to submit to the Holy Spirit. It means guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) and fixing our gaze straight ahead on the One who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

The Challenge for This Week:

Take a moment to reflect on your actions, attitudes, and speech. Do they reflect the "Faith of a Servant" or the "Faith of a Child"? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you shift your gaze back to the things that truly matter.

Originally delivered 2025.04.13

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