GOD FIND'S TENDER HEARTS -- Tomorrow:
" For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." (2 Chron 16:9)
God will not overlook the individual that has a good heart. Men may fail to recognize those "whose heart is perfect" toward God, but He will not. As it is written, "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry" (Psa. 34:15). Although isolated and in conflict with a wicked world, God is always aware of the righteous. He is preoccupied with them, waiting for their expressions of dependency upon Him. Peter said it this way, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (1 Pet. 3:12).
Our faith must appropriate this reality on the individual basis. Much of the religion of our day is group-oriented, losing the identity of the person.
Noah is a notable example of our text. In the midst of a decadent generation that so angered the Lord He determined to destroy it, the eyes of the Lord found Noah. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen. 6:8). While grace is "unmerited favor," in Noah's case it was not unrelated to his character. Noah was not contaminated by his generation. He did not allow it to corrupt his thinking.
Job stood out in "the land of Uz" (Job 1:1). So far as God was concerned, here was the key person in the land. He twice challenged Satan to consider him, even giving approval for him to be extensively tested.
Abraham is the father of believers (Rom. 4:16). God was so confident in Abraham that He would not "hide" from Him the thing He intended to do (Gen. 18:17). He also observed that Abraham would command his children after him (Gen. 18:19). How greatly this man was used by God. His eyes searched for such a man, and when He found him, He made him a byword in the community of the faithful.
Samuel stands uniquely before the era of the kings. He was a man close to God, being acquainted with Him from a youth. On one occasion, God said that even the prayers of Samuel would not help the decadent nation of Israel (Jer 15:1).
Moses was a "servant faithful in all of his house" (Heb 3:5). He had capacities that could be used in honoring God, and the eyes of the Lord found him. How marvelously God undergirded the work of Moses, bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt, and finally giving the Law through him.
David was a "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). He was the kind of man that brought great delight to God, and the eyes of the Lord found him.
Paul the Apostle "labored more abundantly than they (the Apostles) all" (1 Cor 15:10). So singularly minded was he! The eyes of the Lord found him as he set about to proclaim the Gospel with power. The Lord undergirded his preaching, bringing forth fruit around the world.
THE CAUSE THAT GOD CAN UNDERGIRD. The cause God can undergird is one that is in harmony with His "eternal purpose." God does not come to the aid of self-conceived agendas. This is a practice altogether too common among professed believers. Objectives that are motivated by faith honor God. Those who are prompted by pride are destined to failure, and thus will never be supported by the living God. Our text is a case in point. Asa formed an alliance with his enemy, hoping to secure the safety of his nation. Faith in God had nothing to do with his choice, and thus God forsook him. His latter end was not glorious like the beginning of his reign.
The Lord allows a lot of room for creativity in His kingdom. If the heart of His people is open to His will, He will undergird their efforts for Him. He is looking for opportunities to do this. Those who desire to spread His Gospel will soon be discovered by "the eyes of the Lord." He will strengthen them for the work, and supply their needs. That is involved in the promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20).
GOD WORKS IN US. It is one thing for God to work THROUGH us, it is quite another thing for Him to work IN us. The latter is His revealed desire. He can work through anyone, using them for the accomplishment of His purpose. However, that does not always work for the benefit of the one being used, as with Balaam and Caiaphas. (Num 23:19-23; John 11:49-52). Working IN us involves fellowship with us. That is what salvation is about. We have been "called into the fellowship of His dear Son" (1 Cor. 1:9).
To will and to do. God works "IN" us "both to will and to do, of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). Working in concert with our spirits, He accomplishes His "good pleasure" through our willingness and deeds. When it comes to doing, there is no greater home than tom experience the Mighty God working in us, both to will and to do what He has purposed. You do well to seek that kind of blessing.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you forn the experience of being tender in heart. Grant me grace to live consistently in that posture.