December 20, 2022 -- Proverbs 20:5 & Luke 20:1-8 -- Journey to Christmas through Proverbs and Luke: the purpose of the heart exposed

The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
   but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5 ESV

One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Luke 20:1-8 ESV

Are you keeping up with reading one chapter each of Proverbs and Luke? It is a good pattern you are establishing for yourself.

Now on to today's readings. Jesus is the Man of Understanding of Whom the Proverbs spoke. When Jesus was teaching in the temple, do not miss that fact, He was teaching at the temple and many people listened to Him and realized He spoke with authority (“for He was teaching them as one who had authority and not as one of their scribes” Matthew 7:29). So, in the reading from Luke you realize that the question of the Scribes, elders and chief priests was not designed to elicit information leading to greater clarity and salvation. No way. Their question was designed to undermine Jesus. He knew the purposes of their hearts.

When you read the Bible, what is happening for you? The purposes of your heart are exposed. For example, when you read: Are you prepared to yield yourself to what the King of Glory is teaching you? Are you unused to the habit of reading? Are finding excuses to avoid it? Or, perhaps you are finding you are hungry to read more, you have questions which are urgent within you because you want to know more. The purposes of your heart are being revealed.

Whatever is going on in your heart, confess it to Jesus. Ask His Spirit to lead you into all truth. The Spirit loves the Son and delights to reveal Him to everyone who seeks Jesus. The Spirit of God uses the Bible to unveil the beauty and desirability of the Son. The Son loves to reveal the Father. Those who find the Father, in turn, will know with ever greater clarity, the One Whom He sent. When the Word takes hold of your heart, you will find you talk to Jesus, talk to others about Jesus and sing to Him—the purpose for which your heart was made will be engaged within you.

Today’s prayer is a modern translation of Psalm 19

That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
    Otherwise how will we find our way?
 Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
The Message, Psalm 19:6-14

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