Peace Presbyterian Church

“Cultivating Soft Hearts”

One phrase that we have looked at in our sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount has really struck me. When discussing the issue of divorce, Jesus told the disciples in Mathew 19:9, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” God’s creative intent for our lives is to bless us with love, companionship and partnership for a lifetime. Yet, our sin and our selfishness causes our hearts to become hardened, leading us away from the perfect will of God for our lives. How can we avoid having hard hearts and how can we have soft hearts, hearts that beat and yearn for the Lord alone?

I believe that there are certain characteristics that are common to soft hearts, to hearts that belong to God. Soft hearts, for example, are: open to God; receptive to His voice and plan; grace filled and graceful; forgiving; loving, and they choose God instead of sin. Jesus tells us a variety of ways to cultivate soft hearts in the Sermon on the Mount, including laying aside revenge and loving our enemies. Jesus tells us in 5:39, 44-5a, “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also...But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be Sons of your Father in heaven.” Jesus teaches us that our hearts are to be free of revenge, hatred, anger, and resentment. Only then can we have soft hearts, hearts open to hearing and to responding to His presence, voice and will.

In contrast, hardened hearts also have some common features, such as: sinfulness; rebellion; anger; selfishness; lack of forgiveness; hatred and lack of grace. In quoting Psalm 95 in Hebrews 3:7-8,12, the author says, “So as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert...See to it brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Hardness of hearts occurs when we choose to turn away from God, to rebel, to not believe in the goodness and promises of God. Our hearts become hardened as we try to make it through life on our own, instead of trusting, hoping and believing in God.

How can we seek to soften our hearts? First, we can cultivate soft hearts through prayer and confession. We can join with David in his prayer from Psalm 51:10-2, by praying “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” As we pray, we invite His Holy Spirit to enter us and to be with us, to cleanse us and to bring our hearts new and lasting joy. We can also cultivate soft hearts by seeking Him and trusting in Him. As Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” God can soften our hearts if we are willing to seek Him and to be transformed by Him. Ultimately, it is the transforming presence and power of the Holy Spirit that can and does soften our hearts.

Jesus wants us to have soft hearts, so that we will enjoy all that God has planned and willed for us. Let us embrace His gift of the Holy Spirit, who softens our hearts, and who teaches us to enjoy being and becoming people of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Brian

Sermons for July 2006
Basic Christianity, Demanding Discipleship

July 2, 2006:  TBA
Rev. K.C. Wahe Preaching
    Pastor Brian at family wedding
Communion Sunday

July 9, 2006:  Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 6:5-15
    “Prayers of the Heart”

July 16, 2006:  Isaiah 58:1-14; Matthew 6:16-18
    “Fasting of the Heart”
  
July 23, 2006:  1 Timothy 6:17-21; Matthew 6:19-24
    “Treasuring God in our Hearts”

July 30, 2006:  Psalm 37; 1-9; Matthew 6:25-34       “Entrusting our Lives and Hearts to God”
  
We will continue our sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, as we look at this important teaching of Jesus, which is both basic Christianity and demanding discipleship. May each of us faithfully respond to Christ’s call to radical and self-abandoning discipleship.
When provided, please read and reflect on the Scriptures ahead of time in preparation for hearing and responding to God’s Word as it is read and proclaimed.

“...cultivate soft hearts through prayer and confession...”

“...We can join with David in his prayer from Psalm 51:10-2, by praying “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and...”