Carol J German

God set His heart in motion when He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Everything He created made Him glad and He said it was good. He created man with the most endearing love ever. His love is unconditional, pure, and it can never be thwarted. Sin may have disrupted His creation, but it has never deterred the phenomenal pursuit of rescuing us from the consequences of sin.

As you read through the Old Testament, you learn how God always provides and helps His children. In the New Testament, God did something unprecedented, God the Father sent His only Son to become like you and me (except remain sinless). Jesus made Himself available to all people who realized their need for a savior. Even when put to death unlawfully, God revealed His sovereignty by raising Jesus from the dead; read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20! Death no longer has a hold on any person who abides in Jesus Christ.

Understanding God’s love helps you to realize that you must set your own heart in motion so you can receive God’s grace and mercy. God made Himself available throughout the pages of the Bible and He continues today. Jesus is one choice away from your salvation. Are you willing to seek Him to receive it? Do you realize that because of sin, you are apart from God and you need a way back to Him? And after you have received your salvation, do you keep your heart in motion towards God and His truth everyday?

Here is an example of how Jesus frees a person from being enslaved, in this case, a health issue. You read about it in Luke 8:40-48. Jesus is in the midst of healing many from all maladies that people face. A man came and fell at Jesus’ feet pleading for Jesus to heal his dying daughter. While Jesus was going to help him, a woman who has had a health condition for 12 years was out of all earthly options. She wanted healing and freedom from being ostracized from society. Her only hope, Jesus. She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His robe.

“Immediately, the bleeding stopped. Jesus asked, “Who touched Me?” ^44b-45a

Here is what is important in keeping your heart set in motion with God, you must go to Jesus for everything. While Jesus is available and desires for all to come to Him, God gives every human heart the choice to believe and receive the gift of salvation. It is called self will. Jairus who was a leader at the synagogue had to go to Jesus for help. The bleeding woman had to go to Jesus for healing. I must go to Jesus. You must go to Jesus. God will never cross your option to choose something over Christ. God leaves uninterested hearts alone.

Study Isaiah 30:8-26. Look at verses 15-16a, “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘Only in returning to Me and resting in Me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt.'” (Egypt represents the world) Also, Jeremiah 7:23-24, “This is what (God) told them: ‘Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ But My people would not listen to Me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.”

Your heart as well as mine is fickle. The idea of being saved by Jesus your Savior is appealing, the idea of walking moment-by-moment everyday with Jesus as Lord is not so much. It’s hard work to keep your heart in motion where God is first in your life. Many have Jesus as Savior but renege on Jesus as Lord; read 1 John 2:1-6. But those who are willing to learn how to battle this world, your flesh, and Satan, will be victorious in the end.

How does one battle these unrelenting enemies? With a surrendered heart that takes everything to Jesus. Become humble in your need for help, and seek Jesus with your whole being. He will help you. He will teach you. He will rescue you from the grip of sin. He will reveal Himself to you in the most wonderful ways. You will find Him to be faithful, loving, and gracious. He truly is the father figure that you so desperately need. He will complete you.

Set your heart in motion and see what God will do for you.