Satan's Devices

"The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" Jeremiah 17

Those are some pretty strong words. All in a single verse. Can there be any doubt as to how important it is to keep your heart with all diligence? For out of it are the issues of life.

A person with a good heart willingly allows God to establish boundaries, and gladly stays within them, knowing it's for their own good. We all need boundaries in our lives. Boundaries are good things, and within them we receive the blessings of God. We are more effective in life, obedience comes easier, and we can have God's peace that passes all understanding. In addition to that, our prayers are readily answered.

One with a bad heart on the other hand balks at rules and anything that restricts them from getting their own way. They willfully lie to and deceive those who get in their way, too. Outside of God-given boundaries, we put ourselves under God's curse instead of His blessing. If that isn't a scary thought, I don't know what is.

We justify sin when there is no justification. Sin is sin. Either it's right, or it's wrong. Don't follow your heart. Your heart can, and eventually will, lie to and deceive you. If you don't recognize it, it will cause you to lie to and deceive others in defense of your hedonistic ways. Trust in and follow God's Word. With it you can't go wrong. Without it you most definitely will.