2 Corinthians 6:11-13 We have spoken freely to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return ( I speak as to children) widen your hearts.
"This changes everything". " I have some changes to make when I get home".
These are frequent comments made by people on their first mission trip ministering in third world poverty. I heard this comment just last week as we were doing some shanty to shanty evangelism in Honduras and working with our orphaned boys. When God opens our eyes to the realities of the World's spiritual and physical poverty, our hearts are widened. When our hearts are widened, our prayers and financial support flow freely and generously. When our hearts are widened we are able to be more effective ministers of mercy and Love.
When I pray through what Paul is saying in the verses above, many things come to mind. The first would be barriers to a widened heart. Racism, Pride, Materialism and Insulating oneself from the needs of the world, are four culprits that will narrow your heart's ability to serve, as they all erect barriers that inhibit sharing the Gospel and Physical supplies that meet the needs of the widowed, orphaned and impoverished. Paul says to the Corinthians, "You are restricted by your own affections". That means that the people Paul was writing to were dialed in on what they wanted and not the needs of the people that God was trying to point them towards. I think that is a good word for the church today.
How wide is your Heart? Do you want to serve your family? Your community? The world?
Our do you want to serve your affections? Proverbs 18:1 is pretty clear," Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks all sound judgment."
Mark 10:45 says " For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." His heart was wide as can be. If you are a Christ follower, His blood serves you so that your heart can be opened as well. Let Him have His way with you.
Heartwashed:
A condition that occurs when one of God's created beings is restored to its original design of reflecting the glory of God. God accomplishes this by removing a heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh. He then cleanses that heart of flesh with living pure waters of His Holiness. The process is completed when God plants the Love of Christ in His beings so that they then desire to live to carry out the will of God instead of rebelling against it. (Ezekiel 36)
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