By Brother Stephen Rankin

The Bible mentions the heart somewhere in the neighborhood of a thousand times. This is a fact worth pondering. In everyday life, we think of the heart as a symbol for the central and essential. “Getting to the heart of the matter” means getting down to its core reality, whatever the subject happens to be.

The heart of the matter for the Christian life is the heart, plain and simple. God wants our hearts. God speaks to our hearts, mainly because, as Psalm 33:15 reminds us, he fashioned our hearts.

One of the most compelling pictures of the deep communion we are privileged to have with God comes in Matthew 11:28-29. Jesus, God Incarnate, calls to us: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  We have here, as it were, God’s heart calling to ours. That call, if we yield to it, takes us deeper, going below the surface, where we too-often insist on staying. It’s so easy to stay on the surface. It’s not where we belong.

Christians should worry about our tendency to go, so to speak, halfway. Truthfully, halfway with Christ is not possible. It’s either yes or no, enter and walk the path of life, or refuse it. Yet going “halfway” seems like where many Christians land. We make a good start with Jesus. But then, life gets busy. So many demands! And life gets hard and sucks up all our attention. In the crisis, we rightfully cry out to God for help, but otherwise, we find ourselves spending decreasing time with him. And we get stuck in this sort of “halfway” state, having made a start, but now distracted and off track.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the contemporary hymn writer Graham Kendrick’s beautiful song, “Knowing You, Jesus.” Here’s the chorus: “Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you. There is no greater thing. You’re my all, you’re the best, you’re my joy and righteousness, and I love you, Lord.” This song captures the heart of the matter. Saying yes, again and again, to Christ’s call, is life. May we hear the heart of God calling to our hearts.