Transformed Heart

It has been a couple of weeks since my last blog due to vacation and an illness.  During that time though I have been thinking a lot about the discipleship and the heart.  When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior there is a transformation that takes place.  Jesus said in John 3:3 "Unless a man is born again he can not enter the kingdom of heaven."  Spiritually speaking a person is dead before they accept Jesus and then they become alive.  The apostle Paul talks about that in II Corinthians 5:17 of becoming a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come.  The place where that ought to be the most evident is in the heart.   A follower of Jesus receives a transformed heart.  Even Solomon understood the importance of the heart when he said "Guard your heart for out of the heart comes the wellsprings of life."  Proverbs 4:23.  So if my heart has had a genuine transformation what should that look like?  The answer to this question is vital for far too many Christians are claiming they have eternal life but from outside observation it does not appear they are any different from the people of the world.  It is important to note here that I am not referring to a list of do's and don'ts but to the character of a transformed heart.  Now I will answer the question, what does a transformed heart look like?  First, their desires are turned to love God and to do life God's way.  Second, the things of this world are being placed in their proper priority where they do not have control over you.  Third, there is a growing desire to love people, all kinds of people and this is seen in the grace and mercy that is being expressed.  Fourth, there is a growing hunger and thirst for the things of God, for the Bible and for His church.  In other words a transformed heart is moving from the things that God hates towards the things that God loves.  There are plenty of exterior evidence but we do not do things to get a transformed heart but we do the right things because of a transformed heart.  God alone can transform a heart.  I have been saved over 40 years now and God is still transforming my heart whenever I give Him the opportunity.
May the love and peace of God go with you.

Pastor John