Our Heart’s Desire

I have been abundantly blessed over the last few years to be part of a leadership team that shares a common vision. God worked in our hearts individually by planting a desire to serve Him and His people in a particular way. This prepared us for our ministry that we would carry out together as a team. Only God Almighty has the power to move hearts in a course for His purpose to be carried out in a way that pleases Him and bears the promised fruit.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

Paul knows the great sovereign power of God, that He can move hearts in this profound way. Paul had recently taken up a collection for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. He was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love through generous giving on the part of the churches in Macedonia. These brothers and sisters were poor but they gave sacrificially out of dedication to the Lord, love for fellow believers, the blessing of helping others in need, and because it was the right thing to do. God moved the hearts of these believers as an example to other church groups and for the benefit of the needy.

God sees the heart, not the hand, the giver, not the gift. ~ Unknown

Illustrating this example to the church in Corinth, who happened to be rather blessed financially, Paul praises God for giving him a co-laborer with a heart’s desire that matched his own. Titus is Paul’s like minded, like hearted ministry partner.

“I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.” 2 Corinthians 8:16

These good motions in the heart of Titus were not merely natural, or the effects of human power and free will, but were of God, as every good thing is; they were wrought in him by the Spirit of God, and sprung from the grace of God, and therefore the apostle returns thanks to God for the same.   ~ From Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Charles Spurgeon says that in every believer’s heart there is –

     1) Love to God. He cannot else be a child of God.

     2) Love to Christ. How could he be a Christian otherwise? As a consequence of this.

     3) Love to the brotherhood.

     Where there is true love in the heart it becomes a working principle. It is a vital principle, and out of its growth there comes fruit.

My beloved team, with our God planted heart’s desire, was led to the following verse to base our ministry on: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 Recently, we have been reflecting on what the Lord has been doing in the hearts of those we serve. We are overwhelmed with joy over His abundance in multiplying His goodness in the lives of those He has given us to care for. We are witnessing the promised fruit produced by obeying His command to love.

If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit. ~ Oswald Chambers

God chooses us to do His will. He loved us first and plants in our hearts that same desire to love. Love God. Love Christ. Love each other. Bear fruit that lasts. And thank God for tending to your heart and giving the ability to take part in His good work.

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b