A Perfect Heart
2 Chronicles 25:2
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
In my personal Bible reading lately, I’ve come across the phrase “perfect heart” several times. This verse here is talking about King Amaziah of Judah. He is Joash’s son who did right until the death of his adopted father Jehoiada, priest in Judah.
This verse says King Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. What is a perfect heart? Does having a perfect heart mean you are perfect? Does having a perfect heart mean you never sin against God? Is my heart perfect? Is yours?
As I meditated on this passage of Scripture, I realized Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord as long as he saw benefit to himself in it. After all, doing right in the sight of the Lord has many “natural” consequential benefits. God’s laws are set out not to restrict our freedom but rather to enhance it. Having a perfect heart means that like Jehoshphat, Amaziah’s great-grandfather, we set our heart to seek the Lord. Having a perfect heart means we seek God’s wisdom and counsel for all we do. We don’t do what is right just because it’s convenient or because someone influences us to do so. We do right because we genuinely want to please our Lord.
Amaziah did what was right as long as he could see benefit to himself. He served God as long as it didn’t inconvenience him. He did what was right because he’d learned doing right meant God’s blessings would flow as a “natural law” of consequences. Then Amaziah did what God had warned His people against in Deuteronomy 8:14….Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, and in verse 17 of the same chapter And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. You see a perfect heart toward God never forgets Who his God is. A perfect heart never forgets that it is only the grace of God that allows us to be where we are.
King David was a man after God’s own heart. He made the decision early in his life that he would set his heart to seek the Lord. His heart was completely enamored of God. Yet, we know David was not a perfect man as we interpret perfectness today. He made many mistakes, yet his heart was perfect toward God. He had allowed God to come in and completely take over. Yes, there were times David’s selfishness obscured God’s work in his life, yet while he was not completely sinless, while he did not always walk in a complete and mature walk with his Lord, his heart was God’s. He said it this way, in Psalm 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Having a perfect heart is behaving wisely before God. It is choosing each day to walk in the path that God has set before us.
A perfect heart, when rebuked by the Holy Spirit of sin, immediately repents and asks forgiveness of God and anyone else who has been wronged in that sin. David when he sinned and was rebuked by the prophet Nathan, repented and asked God’s forgiveness. Amaziah, however, when rebuked by God did not and he suffered the consequences. However, not only did he suffer but those who followed his leadership.
So, let me ask you …. Is your heart perfect toward God? Do you walk with a heart that continually seeks to please God? That’s what a perfect heart is… not one that never has a wrong thought pass through it, but one that when that thought comes through, immediately conviction sets in so that you repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
Do you serve God with a perfect heart? A heart that though sometimes you mess up in your service for God and in your actions toward others, immediately repents and seeks restoration to the Father’s side, when God’s Holy Spirit brings conviction. Are you like David, a person after God’s own heart? Or are you more like Amaziah, you serve God as long as it benefits you but not with a perfect heart. You see a perfect heart is what keeps us on the right track with God. It keeps us from going off too far into sin. A perfect heart is one that has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Hanani the seer (prophet) told King Asa in 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. King Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord for a time also but then he committed a foolish act. Hanani told Asa God was looking for those who had a perfect heart toward Him so He could take action on their behalf.
Let me ask you again… is your heart perfect toward God? He wants to take action on your behalf if it is. Do you find yourself in situations beyond your control? If your heart is perfect toward Him, He wants to be active in your life. He wants to accomplish His purpose in your life and the lives of those with whom you come in contact. Are you willing to allow Him to?
Won’t you determine today to have a perfect heart toward Him today?
Molly Winter
Col. 1:9-10
My Comments: I so want to serve the Lord with a perfect heart. It seems so difficult at times, but it is getting a little bit easier to run to Him when the troubles come and when I fail Him, to return to Him as soon as possible. “Lord, please help me to have a perfect heart toward You...”
2 Chronicles 25:2
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
In my personal Bible reading lately, I’ve come across the phrase “perfect heart” several times. This verse here is talking about King Amaziah of Judah. He is Joash’s son who did right until the death of his adopted father Jehoiada, priest in Judah.
This verse says King Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. What is a perfect heart? Does having a perfect heart mean you are perfect? Does having a perfect heart mean you never sin against God? Is my heart perfect? Is yours?
As I meditated on this passage of Scripture, I realized Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord as long as he saw benefit to himself in it. After all, doing right in the sight of the Lord has many “natural” consequential benefits. God’s laws are set out not to restrict our freedom but rather to enhance it. Having a perfect heart means that like Jehoshphat, Amaziah’s great-grandfather, we set our heart to seek the Lord. Having a perfect heart means we seek God’s wisdom and counsel for all we do. We don’t do what is right just because it’s convenient or because someone influences us to do so. We do right because we genuinely want to please our Lord.
Amaziah did what was right as long as he could see benefit to himself. He served God as long as it didn’t inconvenience him. He did what was right because he’d learned doing right meant God’s blessings would flow as a “natural law” of consequences. Then Amaziah did what God had warned His people against in Deuteronomy 8:14….Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, and in verse 17 of the same chapter And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. You see a perfect heart toward God never forgets Who his God is. A perfect heart never forgets that it is only the grace of God that allows us to be where we are.
King David was a man after God’s own heart. He made the decision early in his life that he would set his heart to seek the Lord. His heart was completely enamored of God. Yet, we know David was not a perfect man as we interpret perfectness today. He made many mistakes, yet his heart was perfect toward God. He had allowed God to come in and completely take over. Yes, there were times David’s selfishness obscured God’s work in his life, yet while he was not completely sinless, while he did not always walk in a complete and mature walk with his Lord, his heart was God’s. He said it this way, in Psalm 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Having a perfect heart is behaving wisely before God. It is choosing each day to walk in the path that God has set before us.
A perfect heart, when rebuked by the Holy Spirit of sin, immediately repents and asks forgiveness of God and anyone else who has been wronged in that sin. David when he sinned and was rebuked by the prophet Nathan, repented and asked God’s forgiveness. Amaziah, however, when rebuked by God did not and he suffered the consequences. However, not only did he suffer but those who followed his leadership.
So, let me ask you …. Is your heart perfect toward God? Do you walk with a heart that continually seeks to please God? That’s what a perfect heart is… not one that never has a wrong thought pass through it, but one that when that thought comes through, immediately conviction sets in so that you repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
Do you serve God with a perfect heart? A heart that though sometimes you mess up in your service for God and in your actions toward others, immediately repents and seeks restoration to the Father’s side, when God’s Holy Spirit brings conviction. Are you like David, a person after God’s own heart? Or are you more like Amaziah, you serve God as long as it benefits you but not with a perfect heart. You see a perfect heart is what keeps us on the right track with God. It keeps us from going off too far into sin. A perfect heart is one that has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Hanani the seer (prophet) told King Asa in 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. King Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord for a time also but then he committed a foolish act. Hanani told Asa God was looking for those who had a perfect heart toward Him so He could take action on their behalf.
Let me ask you again… is your heart perfect toward God? He wants to take action on your behalf if it is. Do you find yourself in situations beyond your control? If your heart is perfect toward Him, He wants to be active in your life. He wants to accomplish His purpose in your life and the lives of those with whom you come in contact. Are you willing to allow Him to?
Won’t you determine today to have a perfect heart toward Him today?
Molly Winter
Col. 1:9-10
My Comments: I so want to serve the Lord with a perfect heart. It seems so difficult at times, but it is getting a little bit easier to run to Him when the troubles come and when I fail Him, to return to Him as soon as possible. “Lord, please help me to have a perfect heart toward You...”
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