Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/75

Contributor - Rev. Louis R. Harvey

Title - A Transplant

Topic - Meditation

'My Son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways', Prov. 23:26

In the last decade or so we have heard much about the work of modern scientific and medical ability to transplant hearts - and kidneys and eyes, for that matter, too. Many of the transplants have been successful and have given the person a whole new lease on life that was not possible if the transplant had not taken place. Transplanted hearts bring newness of life to the persons receiving them.

In a spiritual sense the 'Wise Preacher' of Proverbs is telling us the real need of the transplanting of our hearts. Let us take this as the actual word of God to us. "My son give me your heart!" Can we give our hearts to God? The answer in response to God's request is yes! The Holy Scriptures use the word 'heart' many many times and in only a few references does it actually refer to the physical organ as such. The Hebrews always thought in terms of subjective experience rather than objective scientific observations. The word used here for 'heart' means essentially the whole person, you with all your attributes, physical, intellectual, and psychological. Generally speaking the Scriptures conceive and understand and use the word 'heart' to mean the governing center for the whole of each person. It is pointed out that the Hebrew word for heart is only used 29 times where it actually refers to the physical heart, but the same word is used 257 times to refer to personality, inner life, and character. The heart in reference to, the emotional state is used 166 times: with reference to intellectual activities 204 times: in reference to volition or will 195 times. The New Testament does the same. The closest word in the New Testament to cover the old Testament word 'heart' is probably the word 'mind'. In New Testament terminology, we could probably say, "My Son, give me Your mind." C. Ryder Smith suggests that the first Great Commandment probably should read and means, "Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God with all Thy heart - that is with all Thy soul, with all Thy mind and with all Thy strength."*

This is where the Lord wants us to be. Our hearts, ourselves - emotionally, intellectually, mentally, transplanting all that we are into the hands of God. God in return, accepting our offering of ourselves, transplants into us the newness of life in Christ Jesus His Son. He takes out of us our selfish desires, and puts into us the presence, the glory, the power, the Love of God. The amazing thing is that God Almighty, in His marvelous grace and infinite wisdom and His Love, has provided on His own, and for us, all that is needful to transplant and create the newness of life in us. He has provided all through the blood of the Cross of Jesus Christ

Many are the Claimants for the Heart. Even Satan dares to put in a loud plea for each of us. "If thou shalt worship me, all shall be thine" (Lk. 4: 7). But what a deceiver he is! God also is calling, "My Son, give me your heart!" The Lord is not interested in beautiful temples or churches, costly sacrifices, or pomp and ceremony in worship services. The Lord God asks for your heart, and in turn will give you newness of life now, and for eternity...... My Son, give me your heart!"

"As I come in deep contrition, at this consecrated hour, Hear, 0 Christ, my heart's petition, Let me feel the Spirit's power! No withholding full confession; Pleasures, riches, all must flee; Holy Spirit take possession! I no more, but Thou in me."

"I surrender all! I surrender all!

All I have I bring to Jesus, I surrender all!"

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