God examines and tests my heart

From: March 13-19, 2007 Study: # 485

TOPIC: “God examines and tests my heart” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 God tests our hearts. Things are done with a motive and this is why God needs to tests our hearts. We sometimes live a disorganized life; we don’t take the necessary precautions in some areas of our daily lives. The motives come from the heart because the life is in the heart and that is where everything is kept. God will test our heart and it depends on us if we are going to trash or keep whatever comes to our thoughts. We can deceive humans, but we can never fool Jehovah, He will test our heart. Our question should be: what motivates us? Sometimes it is not known why we act or speak as we do. Everything that goes through our mind should go through a sieve, according to what is said in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things." We must clearly see what motivates us, if God is not involved, we must refuse it. Everything that goes through our mind should go through that same process. We must give others what is fair. All that comes to our mind must be processed in that order. The great danger is that Jehovah will test the heart. The best thing is to know ourselves by analyzing our steps to be honest, pure, without any imperfection or mixture of flesh or spirit. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Every argument should go through the process of seeing if it is pure and kind, not to judge others but to deliver ourselves. We do it so that our path will not be crossed, because when this happens we are not able to do what God wants us to do. We should go from there to know our heart’s condition so that when Jehovah comes to examine it he doesn't find wickedness but a clean heart without contamination. He wants to use our hands, but our heart has to be faultless so that when Jehovah comes to search us He may find a clean heart. David was willing to humble, refuse, and die to himself. They were accusing Paul insinuating that he was seeking men's approval. The Jews lived under the yoke of the law and Paul preached to them of the grace. Nowadays many have used the grace to lose themselves. They have wanted to demonstrate that they can do anything because they live under the grace. To enjoy the grace is to know that we have not paid a price, salvation was given to us, eternal life, gifts and ministries- everything for free; a gift from God who calls and chooses. But, the grace doesn't limit the law. The preacher can be tempted to speak or to retain part of the truth fearing the reaction of the others or the consequences. God is the master and He keeps in mind if the message that was given is diluted (softened) or if it is omitted. The Gospel didn't come from us but from God before the foundation of the earth, then it is necessary to be faithful to what we have been given as ministers of the Word of God. What we have to learn is to have a free mind because there is where God will be able to glorify himself in our lives. Sometimes our paths become confusing, we hide and we don’t know where we’re headed; for that reason we must be clear with God. Paul was going to be trusted to teach the Gospel from which we learn. God was going to examine his heart to trust him with

the glorious Gospel. If God trusts us and gives us something important, then we must take care of our heart because He will examine it. Paul trusted and feared God. We have not been born to please men but to please God who examines our heart. It is a great honor that God trusts us. For Paul it was a great privilege what had been delegated to him. Our great treasure is in our hands. How do we care for and conserve what God has put in our hands? With complaints and regrets? Great is He in whom we have believed, who chose us for Him to become great in jars of clay. 1 Chronicles 28:9 The gospel was delegated to Paul and building a house for God was delegated to Salomon; it was God’s time. God will call upon us when he needs us and we should respond in his time. David had shed a lot of blood and it did not please God for David to build Him a house. David had many people with capabilities, but when God examined the hearts He chose Salomon to put the throne of God in that house where the power of God would be manifested. What He had in Heaven he wanted to bring it down to Earth and the same he wants to do through us, this is why the devil attacks us so much. If we are to serve God it must be with a perfect heart. The more we seek God here the more we will have in Heaven, let us stop regretting and complaining. We need to have a well disposed spirit to do what we have to do. The fact that God chose Salomon to build his temple forced him to seek and serve God the way David, his father did. The work that Jehovah has put in our hands must be done based on good principles and carried it out in the correct way so that it is accepted by God. The church must move as God directs it. We cannot be together if we don't go through the same process. Jeremiah 17:10 Jehovah scrutinizes our heart, He examines it, He comes to observe it. God sees when wickedness lies in our heart. He looks at the mind and tests the heart to give according to our walk and the fruit of our work. What harms us is not what is in the outside but what is inside of us. Jeremiah 23:24 God allows to see His omniscience and His omnipresence. We are limited, but God knows everything. God marks us in the proximity as in the distance, He dominates everything that surrounds Him, He dominates the earth, He moves everything. He is the one who scrutinizes, examines and knows our walk, what motivates us to do things. Men’s character and behavior cannot hide from the divine eye that sees it all and knows it all. John 2:25 Jesus didn't need anyone to give their testimony because He knew what there was in men. Jesus didn’t trust men because He knew what was inside of them. Jesus is the one that takes us to the Father and the Father examines us. Nobody had to testify of a person because He already knew the person. Jesus didn't want followers who didn't know or accept clearly and definitely what it implied to follow Him. Jesus knew that those who were going to follow him had to suffer. Here we will have tears, persecution, and trials because our heart has to be examined. We sometimes think that the big things, the popularity is what is important, but Jehovah will not accommodate us until he examines our heart. Amen.