A Noble and Good Heart

Articles

Marc Shotts
12/15/14 - Character

A Noble and Good Heart

Many times in the Bible the word “heart” is used to indicate the mind of man. This is the case in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-15). Here Jesus mentions the type of heart that we must have: "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). Notice some characteristics of a noble and good heart as revealed by God...

1. Prepared to Seek God King Jehoshaphat had some problems, but he also had some good points. Jehu told him, "Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God" (2 Chronicles 19:3). Today we must also prepare our heart to seek God and not the world.

2. Trusts In The Lord The psalmist wrote, "Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments...He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD" (Psalms 112:1, 7). We need to learn to trust the Lord. Even in troubled times we must ever cling to our trust in God and His word. This is a characteristic of the noble and good heart.

3. Obedient Writing to the saints at Rome, Paul rejoices and says "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18). A noble and good heart will obey the commands of God and break free from the chains of sin.

4. Filled With God’s Word A good man wrote, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!" (Psalms 119:11). The godly man’s “delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalms 1:2). The noble and good heart will be filled with God’s word as a guide and shield against sin.

--Marc Shotts