# 41 God Sees the Heart

Joh 2:23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

Jesus evidently performed more signs while in Jerusalem and because of these signs many believed in His name. But what’s this? Even though many believed in His name He did not commit Himself to them?  What’s that all about? You’d think He’d jump at the opportunity to claim these miracle observers as His followers! We would, right?

“Just say a prayer, just say you believe, and I’ll count you in!”

But Jesus doesn’t commit to us because of our outward appearances…..He looks at our hearts!  1Sa 16:7 says, “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

And that heart must be devoid of pride. God “resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

You can be a firsthand witness of God’s authority and power, as these pilgrims were in Jerusalem. You can even acknowledge these signs came from God. You can acknowledge that Jesus is a great teacher, but if your pride is still intact, you are still lord, lord, in your own heart and Jesus won’t commit to you. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”

So how does this happen? How does Jesus commit to us? He commits to us through God-granted faith, and “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Rom 10:17)

The Holy Spirit works in that word and brings godly sorrow for our sins, smashing our pride to pieces! “For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation not to be regretted.” (2 Cor 7:10) It is this godly sorrow that caused the publican to pray, “God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you this man went down to his house justified….for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13,14)

It would be tragic to miss Jesus in this life because of our pride! Let the Word of God break you over your sins, and let that same Word bring forth assurance of your salvation as you humbly submit to the lordship of Christ.

Jesus performed miracles when He walked this earth, but that’s not why God sent His Son! He was sent to save people like you and me, who need to come alongside that publican, beating our breast, and crying from the depths of our soul, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”