HOW DOES ONE BELIEVE?
Listen to Your Heart
A Commentary by Constance Vanides
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We choose what we want to believe. But is that choice of the heart or one of convenience? Or, do we believe one thing one day, and something else another day?
Situations continually change, but the heart gets its direction from the One who calls and directs the heart.
By "heart", I am not speaking of the physical organ, which rhythmically beats, and circulates the blood, loaded with its nutrients and oxygen. This, too, we need to move all life-sustaining properties throughout the whole body to keep it healthy in its various parts. However, I speak of "heart" here as the innermost self, our spirit, which relates to and is connected with God, who is Spirit (the Heart of God).
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)
We make our choices through the soul, which consists of the intellect, emotions and will, all three drive us to make a decision. However, self-desires only focus us inward, seeking no other way, nor do we even recognize the Spirit of God as one's own.
" '...Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said to him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.'...Then Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.'...And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:2, 4, 6)
Scripture tells us there is only one way. We can be led either by our own self-desires and the influence from others by the world's standards, or by the truth beyond ourselves coming from God beyond our worldly will. Depending on what we choose, the result is either life which leads to death, or life that is everlasting.
"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:8)
The one who walked with God, the prophet Moses, gave God's counsel to the Hebrews:
"But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live..." (Deuteronomy 30: 14, 19)
God still speaks to us today. Obey His voice with your inner heart and cling to Him for your life!
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© Constance Vanides
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