Your head and your heart

We are living in interesting times - especially here in Australia. We live on a remote Island removed from so much that goes on in the world. Our newest neighbors are very very different - or so it seems. And the world news reminds us that there is much going on that either completely escapes our capacity to comprehend or we feel almost paralysed to do anything in response. As a follower of Jesus I know that our head and heart need to grow in the desire to deepen our knowledge in and relationship with God. My experience is that the way in which we allow our head and heart to respond to the Bible, will largely determine the extent of our growth into the rich depths of walking with God. This is because intellectual engagement alone will never deepen our understanding and interaction of and with God. Head knowledge is important. Examining the scriptures daily to see if what is being said is true is a good thing. As we read the scriptures our capacity to appreciate the whole counsel of scripture grows. God has given us great capacity to reason, interpret and understand and when we do this we are well positioned to better understand God and his will for us in his world.

Application of what we read and understand to be true requires more than intellectual assent; it requires that our heart is open to the things of God as revealed to us through his word in the power of the Spirit. We see this in the conversion of Lydia in Acts 16:14-15. The Lord opened her heart so that she listened and responded to what was said – and the way she responded was to be baptised; total surrender to the Lord.

Keep journeying

Drew