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GIVE WHO YOUR WHAT
Recently I saw a sign that said: “Be an organ donor. Give Jesus your heart.” I suppose it was meant to be clever, but actually it reveals ignorance of the Scriptures because such a thing as giving Jesus your heart is not found in the Bible. Like the idea of “making a decision for Christ,” or “praying the sinner's prayer” this idea, too, is unscriptural and without biblical foundation. There is one place where the phrase, “give me thine heart” can be found in the Bible. It is in the words of King Solomon to his son. Here is the verse containing that phrase along with a bit of context: “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder,” (Proverbs 23:26-32). Obviously King Solomon is giving his son practical advice about living: stay far from prostitutes and alcohol! Nothing here about giving your heart to Jesus! The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus said, “...out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies,” (Matthew 15:18-19). The heart of each person being “deceitful” and “desperately wicked” causes it to spew forth awful sins. What makes anyone think that Jesus wants such a filthy thing! Jesus “...is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners...” (Hebrews 7:26). And you think to please Him by giving Him your filthy heart? I suppose those who speak of such a thing as giving your filthy heart to Jesus think that doing such a thing would please God. What they do not know is that the Bible is absolutely clear on this point: no person can do anything that pleases God prior to God regenerating them – that is prior to God birthing them anew by His Spirit. The Bible says: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his,” (Romans 8:7-9). Jesus said: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again,” (John 3:7). The new birth or birth from above is a work of the Spirit. Cast yourself on God!
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