Heart Healthy - Pt 1

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:9-16 ESV).

Last Friday I nearly got “grounded.” Or at least that’s what my grandson, Logan, thought. Let me tell you the story in the hope that it will set the tone for the next few days and encourage you in whatever stretch of your journey you find yourself. I have been having a bit of trouble with my heart again. I have been to the cardiologist and he has me scheduled for another round of cardio specific tests in the next few weeks, though he suspects that my A-fib is back or that I may have some blockages. At any rate, I am not supposed to be “exerting” myself until we get a course of treatment. Now we come to last Friday. I decided that it would be a good idea to mow the yard. We live on a little over an acre and have a small tractor for the task; so, my thought is that it wouldn’t be an exertion and it would save Kyle the time on the holiday weekend to do other things. Well, you’d have thought that I had just committed the unforgivable sin. Mary saw me mowing and gave me a stern look and a sincere reprimand, after which she called the boys and tattled. It was later in the afternoon and soon Brandy and the kids arrived home from school. They were followed closely by Kyle. Thank heavens Aaron and David live so far away or I’m sure they would have been there too! At any rate, everyone gently reprimanded me except Logan. Standing there in a little huddle right after I had finished mowing, I was told that if I didn’t behave and not mow anymore, they were going to start taking some of my tools away. Logan said, “Grandpa, you’re gonna get grounded! This is like them taking my Play Station away from me! This is bad!” And, of course, that made me think of our reading today. We need to be “heart healthy” believers. In the next few weeks we are going to answer the question: “Is your heart strong?” I don't mean your physical heart, I mean the non-physical, non-material you. This is the thinking, feeling, willing, hoping, fearing, trusting, longing, raging, grieving, rejoicing you. It is the inner you. Are you strong? It has nothing to do with your muscles or your pulse or your measurements or your cholesterol or your white blood count or your electrocardiogram. Is your “inner you” strong? It needs to be. The writer of Hebrews says, "It is good for the heart to be strengthened" (v. 9). Therefore it is something we should want. It is something we should desire and seek. It begins with grace; and, that begins with our trust in Christ. Start there today. Renew your dependence on Him alone today.