TDR: 3 July (Hosea 10:2)

‘Their heart is deceitful [divided (KJV)]’ (Hosea 10:2)

This is a very serious charge, because God demands the whole heart, and His people profess to surrender it. But should we not be concerned that many are guilty on this matter? They appear so undecided, that we must think that the heart is divided between God and the world; between sin and holiness; between truth and error; or between Christ and self.

What are the symptoms of a divided heart? (1) Habitual cleaving to the things of earth; (2) Being satisfied with a form of godliness; (3) Being slow to examine ourselves; (4) A dislike of plain, close, soul-searching preaching; (5) Putting eternal things away at a distance.

Dear friend, how is it with you? God rejects half-heartedness – He will have all or none! Do you fear on this point?

There is a remedy: (1) Condemn whatever you detect amiss; (2) Take it to Jesus, and seek Him to heal it; (3) Expose it to the keen edge of God’s word; (4) Endeavour to keep up a constant sense of the presence of God; (5) Converse regularly about eternal realities.

As the heart is, so will the life be and so will the comfort and peace be. O Lord, unite my heart to fear Your name!

Let me, according to Thy word,
A tender, contrite heart receive,
Which grieves at having grieved its Lord,
And never can itself forgive.
A heart Thy joys and griefs to feel,
A heart where Christ alone may dwell.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘I have also borne my personal testimony, the Lord hath blessed me notwithstanding my forgetfulness of him, my weakness, ingratitude, rebellion, lukewarmness, and folly. I should therefore, gratefully acknowledge the blessings bestowed on me for forty-one years: I should prayerfully ask for more; I should hopefully expect what is promised and I should be faithful, believing what he has said, and doing what he has commanded’.