WITH PURPOSE OF HEART
“And they sent forth Barnabas, that he
should go as far as
was glad, and exhorted them all,
that with purpose of heart
they
would cleave
unto the Lord.”
Acts 11:22-23
Barnabas beheld the GRACE OF GOD
working in their lives, and he was glad. This is a beautiful, positive
approach. He could have seen all the imperfections, how much spiritual growth
was needed, worried about the errors of doctrine, whatever else might be common
to the beginnings of the Christian walk. But he saw the grace of God, and knew
there was a work begun. Viewing God’s
handiwork, he knew that the One who had begun in these people a good work, also
would bring it to a successful conclusion in due time, so he only sought to
encourage, and exhort them to continue to follow on to perfection, and with
purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord.
The word, ‘cleave’ comes from the
Greek ‘pros’ meaning toward, and ‘meno’ meaning to
remain, abide. What an excellent exhortation, to remain towards the Lord,
to abide in a walk that is always directed towards the Lord; to keep Him in the
center of our vision, and to remain in close union with Him. “I have set the Lord always before me;
because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is
glad, and my glory rejoices” (Psalms16:8-9).
This vital abiding, remaining ever
towards the Lord, is the resultant action of our PURPOSE OF HEART. It speaks of
the action of the will. True spiritual depth and maturity come with growth and
processing under the workmanship of the Spirit of God within us, but our responsive action to His in-working is the exercise of
our will, willing to live out that which He has wrought within. “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would
not defile himself” (Daniel1:8). This was a deliberate, pre-meditated, chosen course of action. It was the action of his will motivated by
his heart, his inner state of being, that gave strength to face every test
which followed.
Lord, we will to have Your
will in all things. Amen!
From Daily Overcoming