Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, NIV)

There are many things in this world that most people find to be beautiful or exciting; things that bring a swell of appreciation or satisfaction. Majestic trees, rolling plains, and towering snow-topped mountains bring travelers from afar just to view them. Amber waves of grain stir the artist in one way, and the farmer in another. Each has their own, personal emotion and association with the scene spread out before them. The artist thinks in terms of form, color, and texture - the farmer recalls the planting, the weather during the growth stages, and anticipates the harvest.
Truly, we don’t all like the same things, or see the same meaning in them. As a beekeeper, the sight of a swarm of bees marching into the hive, flowing like a living river, means that they have accepted their new home, and the queen bee is probably safely inside the hive. Opening a hive while a “honey flow” is in progress (the bees have nectar and pollen sources to feed upon) is a beautiful sight in my opinion. There is an order, a purpose about their actions, as they go about their work. The thrill of seeing white-capped honeycombs means sweetness ahead for the beekeeper, and food for the bees through the harsh winter.
Most people, though, see only a stinging insect, best left alone, and honey is to be bought at the store.
Sometimes the beekeeper spots trouble in the hive. The words “queenless” stirs the beekeeper into special action. The queen is the mother of the hive; she is the glue that holds it all together. Without a queen, there will be no young bees, and the colony will soon die out. There is a sense of disunity, a lack of purpose that can be felt by the experienced beekeeper. They are saying by their actions, “We are in trouble here!”
When they are without a laying queen, and no fresh bee eggs, they are powerless to do anything about it. But I am not a bee; I have resources that they know nothing of. I can do things that are impossible for them. I can restore a new queen for them. By a simple action (for me) I can make the difference between life and death for that colony of bees. All they have to do is accept my gift.
So, also, can God do things that are impossible for us. He has given us Life Eternal, in His Son Jesus Christ. All we have to do is humbly and earnestly accept that gift.

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

You would think, in these enlightened times, that a symbol for the brain, or at least the head, would be used to represent the seat of our emotions. Instead, the symbol of the heart is emblazoned on bumper stickers, Tee shirts and greeting cards to represent love of places, things, and even the family pet.
Surely the brain, that marvelous collection of memory cells and director of bodily communications, should get some credit for what we think and feel. But, no, the heart, a pumping station, prevails in art and literature as the seat of emotion, not the least of which is love.
My computer dictionary, having described the heart as a “hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system” moves on to the embodiment and “seat of the affections or sensibilities, collectively or separately, as love, hate, joy, grief, courage, and the like; rarely, the seat of the understanding or will; -- usually in a good sense, when no epithet is expressed; the better or lovelier part of our nature; the spring of all our actions and purposes; the seat of moral life and character; the moral affections and character itself; the individual disposition and character; as, a good, tender, loving, bad, hard, or selfish heart.” (Whew!)
Someone might become so alarmed that they have their “heart in their mouth,” or be sincere and well intentioned by having their “heart in the right place.” We might have a heart of gold, or a heart of stone, reflecting our nature toward others. In fact, there are so many illustrations that it is breaking my heart to not include them all.
Getting to the heart of the matter, the scriptures plainly teach the importance of the heartof man in his relationship and service to God. Jesus stressed the urgency of purity of heart thus: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matt. 5: 8).
“By an easy transition the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)
God's acceptance of man is based on the whole heart (Ps. 9: 1, Prov. 3: 5), God knows the secrets of the heart (Ps. 44: 20, 21), and God's law must be in our heart (Ps. 37: 27-31). Man is taught to keep his heart (Prov. 4: 23), and to be of a pure heart (Matt. 5: 8, 2 Tim. 2: 22). The Bible teaches that our speech mirrors our heart (Matt. 12: 31-35). The heart is urgently important, but the heart can be wrong - if not guided by God's word (Prov. 28: 26).
The heart has emotion (Jn. 14: 1, Matt. 5: 28), will or choice (Ex. 35: 5), the intellect (Jn. 12: 40, Rom. 1: 21), and the conscience (Acts 2: 37). All four of these elements are essential. Man is to "obey from the heart that form of doctrine…" (Rom. 6: 17).
God knows the secrets of the heart. (Ps. 44: 21). God knows our will, our emotions, intellect, and conscience. All things are laid open to him who shall be the righteous judge of all men (2 Cor. 5: 10)
The Bible heart is not the physical, blood-pumping organ found in our chest. The Bible heart involves the mind, will, emotions, and conscience of man. God's acceptance of man is based on man's heart (Prov. 3: 5
God wants your heart focused upon Him: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).