Doesn't God look at the heart?

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tryingtofindhim

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#1
I mean the Bible sas in one of the Samuels that man looks on the outside but God looks at the heart. Could that apply to actions? People think I am doing wrong when I am trying your hardest to do what's right? Do you think God takes that into consideration. Like I keep messing up, not doing the same thing over and over but I try to do what's right and it ends of being so wrong and then everyone says I'm not a Christian. What do you think God would say? Would he be like you need to do what's right or would he be like I see the person's heart?
Did that make sense?
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

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Right. So the mass murderer kills 10 people but God knows he only did it accidentally, and in his heart he really isn't a murderer but a good person.

If you're not doing the right thing your heart isn't quite right, so you need Christ to change your heart. It doesn't mean you're not a Christian.
 
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NoahsMom

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God does see the heart, if he judged us based on the outward, wed all prolly be doomed to hell. We will mess up, cause we have this thing called flesh to contend with, doesnt mean we shouldnt keep trying and striving, doesnt mean we should just chalk every little foul up we do to flesh....and keep messin up, it just means to pray harder, seek Gods face in all that you do, learn from your mistakes so you dont keep repeating em.
 
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songster

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God does look at the heart. The bible, speaking about the heart of man, of course, is not referring to the physical heart, but the soul. Many types of thoughts proceed from the heart, both good and bad. Even the scriptures tell us that a person’s heart is a reflection of who they are.

Proverbs 27:19 … as water reflects the face, a man’s heart reflects the man…

We have even heard it said, that’ he/she has a good heart’, but in actuality, a person never really knows what is in their own heart, until it's revealed. They can do their best to maintain a morally upright life and even try to practice the commandments, but the unfortunate truth of it all, is that no matter how good we believe we are, this is not what we will be judged by in the end.

Many people, especially those weak in their faith, believe that by doing good and trying to abstain from evil, they should be allowed into Heaven. Not only is this a false belief, but God specificaly laid out the only way into His kingdom. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me.
The heart does play a very important part in believing. Romans 10:9 tells us that ‘if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved’.

Our own righteousness, or moral code, could never equal the righteousness we need in order to enter God’s kingdom. Through faith , Jesus’ righteousness is given to us, and through that righteousness alone, we are found guiltless. On the day of judgment, God will not be welcoming us into the kingdom based on our good deeds, good works, or having a good heart, but by our faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished.


If we trust our hearts, we will find that our hearts are deceiving. There is no goodness or righteousness apart from Christ. If we trust in our deeds, we will always fall short, never being able to obtain the true righteousness which comes by faith.
 
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iwant2serve

iwant2serve

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Apr 12, 2009
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Yes God does look at the heart! That is one reason we think God is not working in our lives at times, because what we think we need deliverence from isn't always what God knows we need deliverence from. Some times we my struggle with a issue in our lives and get all broken up over it. Yet God is working on another area in our lives that He knows is far more important for us. Like one who is a drunkard or a drug addict really wants to stop and they try hard. Yet they have deeper matters in thier heart that causes them to do thoes things. Because they seem to not be able to be freed from the addition they don't see how much they are starting to love others and forgive others. That is what I mean. Now is this a ticket to give up and not seek God for deliverence in that area, NOT. Just remember this God knows us better then we will ever know ourselves, so His work is not always what we think or see.
 
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jakeb101291

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Read the sermon on the mount, Matthew chapters 5-7. It speaks of all the ways you are judged in the kingdom of heaven. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

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I find it funny how people always appeal to God looking at their heart for an excuse to their sin. "God knows my heart". But if you are sinning or making mistakes it is your heart that is the problem. What else is telling you what to do and how to do it and what to say?
 
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cornerstone

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Your outward appearance should reflect that which is within. If Jesus is your Savior, than what is inside, a pure heart will be reflected in your appearance. You will look like Christ, in your mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts, intent and action. Yes, the Bible says that God looks at the heart but we are to pray that the outside reflects what is on the inside. If people are questioning your actions as "not right" then you need to examine what you are reflecting? Yourself, or the Spirit which is within you. We are mark those that follow Christ and follow them as they follow Christ. There is no duplicity. A Christian is Christ-like and it will be seen.
 
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markhelp

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Dec 24, 2008
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GOD LOOKS ON THE HEART JUST LIKE HIS WORD SAYS
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD
YOUR CRITICS PROBABLY COMMIT MORE SINS BEFORE BREAKFAST THAN YOU DO ALL DAY

HAVE A GREAT DAY
ENJOY GOD'S LOVE
 
pickles

pickles

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Apr 20, 2009
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From what I have read in the scriptures , yes Our Lord God looks at the heart. Considering ,that is where his spirit resides in us. It shows how important the heart is. Many a man has done good works, refrained from sin yet the heart is filled with sin. I believe that is what Our Lord Jesus will judge.
God bless, pickles
 
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greatkraw

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#11
tryingtofindhim said:
I mean the Bible sas in one of the Samuels that man looks on the outside but God looks at the heart. Could that apply to actions? People think I am doing wrong when I am trying your hardest to do what's right? Do you think God takes that into consideration. Like I keep messing up, not doing the same thing over and over but I try to do what's right and it ends of being so wrong and then everyone says I'm not a Christian. What do you think God would say? Would he be like you need to do what's right or would he be like I see the person's heart?
Did that make sense?
Click to expand...

If you try to please other Christians you will go crazy. Get to know God and please him. If your relationship is ok with him it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I know this is hard for a young person to accept. Plenty of Christians will try to lay their own baggage on you and say the Bible teaches it.

Romans 14:4 Who are you that judge another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.

Do not become a man pleaser.
 
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greatkraw

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The other thing is, when you are trying to do the right thing, that God wants you to lean on Him. The reason we go through tough times is so we can learn to trust and lean on Him. he wants the relationship.
 
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machew

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#13
I think there are things that need clarification. Your heart's condition and and what your heart actually wants are two completely different things. You can honestly at a heart level not want to sin, yet because of your past, you have insecurities, fears, and wounds in your heart that can influence the way you act. So when someone comes up to you and is rude, you will react in one of two ways:

1. Your hurts and wounds in the past cause a defense mechanism to come up and you become sinfully enraged at the person
2. Because you have decided that you don't want to act on your defense mechanism, you decide to do your best to Love the person and not allow yourself to be enraged.

In either case if you are a Christian, your desire is to not sin in this situation, because the Holy Spirit has changed our hearts.
So the real questions then, is how do we get out of being controlled by a sinful nature that is supposed to be dead according to Romans 8?

The Bible says that a fruit of the Spirit is self-control. If external things are able to cause you to automatically react to things, then you no longer have any self-control. The external influences control you. So the issue at hand is not your heart but figuring out why there is no self-control.


tryingtofindhim: The Holy Spirit wants to freely give this to you. There is a lot in your past that you haven't fully processed yet, and haven't fully healed from. But He wants to meet you right where you are at. You don't need to do anything to gain favor or acceptance from Him. You already have it because of the blood of Jesus over your life. Pray to Him and ask Him coming from the realization that you can come to Him boldly because Jesus is your righteousness, not something that you could ever do to become righteous. He Loves you more than you can even fathom and endured the cross for you. :)
 
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