Whose Heart

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

WHOSE HEART

Acts 13:13-25

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak." 16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.   20 All this took about 450 years. "After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' 23 "From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: 'Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'

NIV

Paul has more to say to the men in the synagogue, bringing them to the point that Jesus is the Messiah, but there are some truths in this portion, or his introduction, that we should take note of. First, the message about the forgiveness of sins through Jesus is extremely encouraging, which is what Paul was invited to speak. This portion is a history lesson on Israel and its relationship with God, leading to the knowledge of David, the one man whom God testified about. This is the truth that we want to consider how our lives compare to David's. God testified that he found a man after his own heart. What does it mean to be after God's own heart? Certainly, this did not apply to the private life of David, for he acted sinfully concerning Bathsheba. We must then conclude that this testimony of God about David concerned his public life. Saul was rebellious and did not follow God's command. However, David did not allow idolatry, and he ruled according to the law of Moses. He followed the commands of God. However, even when he sinned, when Nathan brought it to his attention, he repented and sought God. David did not rule against God, but for God. We are not sinless either; however, have we become comfortable with a level of sin in our lives? What we know about David is that he was not comfortable with his sin. Of course, we would never murder, steal, or commit any of those big sins of the Ten Commandments. Yet have we allowed ourselves the liberty to gossip, or harbor ill feelings, unforgiveness, jealousy, envy, self-centeredness, anger, pride, judgmental, critical, or any of those other emotional or spiritual faults? Those feelings or actions are nothing like the heart of God or the life of someone who lives after God's own heart. Sure, we are not sinless, but at the same time, do we seek the heart of God in the area in which he has called us to serve him? Can we say that God has not called us into his service? We are not called to be a king as David was, but we have been called to be a part of the body of Christ, to build each other up, to encourage each other, and to love each other. We may not rule a nation, but if we seek God's heart, we should rule over ourselves and be rid of those unfruitful feelings. Jesus said that if we come after him, we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him. If we can do that, then maybe God would testify concerning us that he found someone after his own heart who would do everything he wants. This is the greatest question: do we do what we want, following our own heart, or do we want what God wants, following His heart?