Title: Pursue the wealth of the heart
Isaiah (152) Pursue the riches of the heart (Isaiah 63:7-19)
< Attitude to know grace >
What is the biggest concern of the church today? There are many believers with only names. Why are there so many church members? Because there are many people who do not believe in Jesus but believe in people. If you look at Acts 8, such a problem existed in the early church as well. At that time, in the city of Samaria, a magician named Simon was treated as a hero. People were fascinated by his magic and worshiped him almost like a god.
At that time, the evangelist deacon Philip appeared there and preached the gospel and worked miracles. Then the people abandoned Simon and flocked to Philip. Where will the people who have flowed from Simon to Philip go after that? Why would that happen? Because they do not have Jesus, they fall for Simon and fall for Philip. So, when Peter and John came to Samaria to investigate from Jerusalem, they discovered that none of those who fell for Philip had truly been regenerated.
Do not become like the Samaritans in your life of faith. If you follow a preacher, a prophet, or a healer without relying on Jesus, you will soon be at a loss. If you look at the preacher who preaches Jesus instead of looking at the Jesus who the preacher is preaching, you will surely fail. The only object of faith is Jesus. Just as there were four-color factions in the Corinthian church, even in church life, if you go to church based on your personal connections, you will be in big trouble. The most important thing in the life of faith is the life of knowing grace. Those who know grace will eventually be put to good use.
Abraham had a wandering disposition, but because he became a being who knew grace, he became the father of faith. Although Moses had a critical disposition, he became the national leader of the Exodus because he became a being who knew grace. Although Peter had a hot-blooded disposition, he became a powerful apostle because he became a being who knew grace. Although Paul had a straightforward disposition, he became a being who knew grace and became a pillar that established the framework of Christianity. They each had different personalities, but the important thing is that they all knew grace and wanted to repay it.
< Pursue the wealth of the heart >
God's grace is still in effect today. In such a state, the most important factor necessary to receive grace is an attitude not to forget God's grace. When grace is not forgotten, grace is added. If you want your prayers to become answered prayers, always show a person who knows grace by offering prayers of thanks and praise before pleading. So, the prophet first praised God's grace in verses 7-14, and then asked God for new grace until verses 15-19.
The most blessed heart in this world is a heart that knows grace. You don't know how rich your heart can be when you have that kind of heart. Before you seek the riches of money, first seek those riches of your heart. There is no need to turn away from money just because you are a saint, but there are many things that money cannot actually buy. Money can buy a bed but not sleep; it can buy food but not an appetite; it can buy a family but it cannot buy a family. Also, money can buy medicine, but not health, and luxury, but not happiness.
Biblical wealth is more than money, meaning not wanting anything. Having no shortages is not the same as having no problems. All the ancestors of faith had problems, but there was nothing lacking because of God's grace. After all, true wealth is always walking with Jesus, remembering His grace and living with a grateful heart. If your heart overflows with grace, you are rich even if you are poor; if your heart does not have grace, you are poor even if you are rich. Therefore, if you want to become the master of true wealth, first have a contented heart overflowing with grace.
People consider material blessings first, but the blessings given to the saints are more than material blessings. In other words, salvation, eternal inheritance, protection, answers to prayer, reward, preservation, victory, strength, wisdom, health, etc. are the blessings given to the saints. Such blessings cannot be bought with money. In the end, true wealth does not depend on ?쐆ow much you have grasped?? but rather depends on ?쐆ow much do you realize and appreciate grace and share it with your neighbors???