The Heart of the Gospel

The prophet Micah asked a really good question that many folks today should be asking, regarding what it is that God is looking for from his people. He also gave us the all important answer to this question: “Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:6-8). In the answer we see what God does not want or need, as well as what he requires. It is not increased religious service or zeal that God is looking for, but rather a heart that wants to do what pleases him, and the love of mercy and justice; with all honesty and humility. Isaiah, by means of the holy Ghost, made the very same observation: “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa. 66:1,2). And Solomon said the very same thing by the wisdom of God: “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (Prov. 21:3). Samuel also agreed with the words of these soldiers of faith: “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” ( I Sam. 15:22). If the heart is not right, no amount of religious service can make it right.

I believe the point is emphatically made here, that God merely wants someone with a heart for him and a determination to do things the right way in his eyes with humility and perseverance in faith. He is not looking for what the body of Christ is offering to him today; that being increased religious fervor and service instead of “keeping our hearts with all diligence,” and thereby bringing forth the love of God in our lives to those around us, bearing witness of who and what he is (Prov. 4:23). Our priority must be on keeping the condition of our heart good and right before God, making intercession for others, and showing forth the love that he has “shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5). Everything else that we may pursue or obtain in regard to the worship and service of God is worthless unless we make that grade and keep it (I Cor. 13:1-3). In other words, in order to pull the cart we must keep the horse in front of it. Satan has deceived many good souls into “forsaking their first love” by adding traditions, doctrines, and rules of men that do absolutely nothing for the soul; but in fact take away plenty from it (Gal. 5:2). And how is that, you may ask? By turning away God’s people from the simplicity of “purifying [their] hearts, even as he is pure,” and living in the resulting capacity of having peace with God, and showing forth his holy love to this world and to one another (II Cor. 11:3; Jn. 13:35). Jesus put it across this way: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat. 6:33). And “all these things” include the worship and service that God requires from us. This is the Gospel and covenant of the heart my friend, and if the heart is right, the remainder of the body will follow suit. On the other hand, if needless religious distractions are observed, the condition of the heart will erode and spiritual bondage is inevitable. Amen.