Daily Bread - Dec 19 2006

1 Peter 3: 4 - "But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptible - even a gentle and quiet spirit - which is of great value before God."

The heart of man is the "hidden man" or the inner man. It is that immortal dimension of ourselves that now exists in this mortal body. When our bodies die, our inner man departs either to be with the Lord or into the punishment of eternal death. The heart is that hidden dimension of man where God desires His truth and wisdom to dwell (Psalms 51:6). Those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus have had their hearts liberated from the darkness of sin by the circumcision of Christ which removed its foreskin (Colossians 2:13). The hard and calloused heart of man has been softened by redemption's transformation which created a new heart and a new man (Ezekiel 36:26; Ephesians 4:24).

God has made our hearts His dwelling place, and because He dwells there, our inward man grows and is strengthened every day (2 Corinthians 4:16). In that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dwells in our hearts, His word also dwells there, and it is from our hearts that His peace rules our lives (Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 3:16; 3:15; Philippians 4:7). It is from our heart that the Spirit of God cries out unto the Father (Galatians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 1:22). It is with our heart that we believe unto righteousness (Romans 10:10).

God in His loving kindness and tender mercies has caused the light of His glorious gospel to shine into our hearts and, as a result, His nature and ways are inscribed there (2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16; Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23-24; Romans 8:4). It is our responsibility to treasure what God has done for us and adorn our hearts with the beauty of holiness. God has brought His Glory into our hearts, and all we must do is yield to Him and let Him reign.

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen