Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.1
What used to be an impossibility is now possible through the finish work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We are made righteous and have been given a new heart—an abode acceptable to a righteous God; thus, the Spirit now resides in us. Out of gratitude, how may we secure this residence?
Through the prophet Ezekiel God declared, I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.2
Left to our own will and strength perhaps we would be hard pressed to successfully guard our heart. Nevertheless, it would perhaps help to create a word picture from the word heart—hear and the cross (letter “T”) as a reminder that we are to intentionally incline our ear and regularly hear the message of the cross.
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.3
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.4
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.5
Notes:
1. Proverbs 4:23 MSG
2. Ezekiel 36:24-28
3. Hebrews 10:11-14
4. Hebrews 10:19-25
5. Hebrews 12:1-2
