"Purpose of Heart"

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." (Prov.23:26)

In scripture, I am reminded again and again of the importance and place of the heart in our relationship to God. He requires heart devotion.

God's charge against the people of Israel was that, "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Mark 7:6)

Is this not the situation in our own day?

There is an exhortation given in Acts that speaks to this issue. It is found in Acts 11:21-23. Here, concerning the early church, it is recorded, "And the hand of the Lord with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."

In this passage these new believers who are encountered at Antioch by Barnabas are exhorted to "cleave" to the Lord in a particular way. They are to do this with "purpose of heart".
Why must their "cleaving" have the heart as its source?
Is it because that the heart is the residence of what people truly desire and worship?

We "cleave" to what we treasure and as Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Mat.6:21)

So, is it accurate to conclude that in order for a person to "cleave" to Christ, He must be their greatest treasure and He must be esteemed as supremely valuable?

If He is not, will a person "cleave" to Him regardless of the cost?

It is evident that the people of God, throughout history, have been a people with God-centered hearts. They love Him supremely and account Him as their all in all!
He is their treasure and highest thought.


Psa. 73:26 declares that, "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."