Singleness of Heart

By Sheri Del Core

Due to a mild ailment, I get occasional ultrasound examinations of my heart. It’s sort of fun because you get to see the hearts chambers and valves in action. Suppose one day the technician looks at my heart on that screen and says: “Hey, your heart’s full of poison!” In my spiritual heart, that’s what God sees when I drift too far from Him and give myself over to things that aren’t His will.

Whatever we think on the most is what our hearts are devoted to. The Bible is very clear that we’re to put God first. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that the pure in heart will be blessed and see God. We don’t receive a pure heart through genetic inheritance; we have a part to play in this divine heart transplant. We have to be willing to give up our hearts of stone—hearts full of self-will, and let Jesus give us a new heart.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you double minded.” James 4:8

A decision for Christ, the unremitting choice to follow and remain close to Him and a desire to continue to give up our will for His, is single-mindedness in action. Loving God so completely that we shower His love on others is indication of a pure heart. Not a sinless heart, but one that is single focused on God. A pure heart is free from the poison of deceit and the disease of double-mindedness. Purity of heart is a byproduct of a transformed mind—an undivided mind.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

The Bible makes it plain that our hearts and minds are linked. Another way of saying “steadfast spirit” could be an “unwavering strength of mind”. With our thoughts occupied on God’s truth, our hearts yield to Jesus and that starts to show up in our actions. From the heart, the mouth speaks and from our thoughts actions follow. As our heart becomes more pure, we become more sensitive to the needs of others and develop a greater distaste for evil. Prayer becomes almost as natural and necessary as breathing.

In Deuteronomy, God tell us He circumcises our hearts, which enables us to love Him completely. We aren’t even capable of loving God without God’s help! We’re designed to be a very focused people. God focused. The Bible tells us to not allow our hearts to be troubled; to set our hearts and minds on the things above; that we love, know and obey with our hearts. We have free will to look to Jesus or look away. He wants us to love Him with all our heart. A Christ centered singleness of heart, is a heart that God’s sees as pure—and a pure heart, is a heart that sees God

Sheri Del Core wrties from Aptos, California. sheridc@pacbell.net