He Knows Hearts

Only God sees the heart of each person. Only His eyes look beyond actions to motives… “The LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed” (2 Samuel 2:3). "Every way of man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD ponders (weighs) the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2).

That God can see the hearts, thoughts, and motives of all people, ought to terrify the wicked and comfort the godly. The wicked, who “speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts,” will be exposed. The godly, who are “spoken against as evildoers,” but whose motives were right before God, will be exonerated on Judgment Day.

Jesus proved He was/is God in many ways, but one of them is by knowing thoughts and hearts. When Jesus healed a paralyzed man… “Seeing their faith, He said to the sick man, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven.’” Then, certain of the onlookers said within themselves, ‘This man blasphemes.’ And Jesus, knowing their thoughts said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?’” (Matthew 9:2-4).

Jesus saw faith and He saw evil thoughts – and He still sees them. To those who place their faith in Him as the Son of God today, and who receive the forgiveness and righteousness offered through His Cross, He will still say, “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.” But to those stubborn and unbelieving, Jesus’ warning still stands, “There is nothing secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hidden, that shall not be fully revealed and made public” (Luke 8:17).

Today will be a day of salvation for those who say, "Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me, and know my thoughts. And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23,24).

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)