Articles
My Heart Gets There First
An elderly Christian lady, dreadfully crippled with rheumatism, used to hobble to the
services of the church on two sticks. It was a great ordeal and required of her considerable toil
and pain. A friend of hers observed her regularly and asked: “How do you manage to be at every
service?” Her answer was classic: “My heart gets there first and my old legs just follow after.”
There is the key to faithfulness, not only in attendance at the worship assemblies, but in
living a life worthy of the name “Christian.”
Jesus had taught men to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
All acceptable service to God and His Son begins in the heart - a heart filled with love. A heart
filled with the love of God and His Son will show itself in external actions. Jesus said, “If you
love me, keep my commandments” (John 15:14).
If Jesus truly is Lord in our hearts, our lives will be lived so that others will see Christ
living in us and the hope we have in our hearts. “But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord:
being ready always to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope
that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15-16).
We have heard the expression, ”Their heart is not in it.” I’m afraid that the Lord, who
knows the hearts of all men, must be saying that about many people who profess to follow
Christ. Is your heart in the service to Christ? If so, you’ll be like the lady above: your heart gets
there first and your legs naturally will follow.
