On Giving the Heart to God
Miles Jackson. Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. I. WHAT IS MEANT BY GIVING GOD OUR HEART. "Give Me all thine affections. Let Me be their object, let Me be the centre where they all meet. Give Me thy hope, thy fear, thy joy, thy desire, thy love, thy delight. Hate that which I hate; love what I command; desire what I promise. Rejoice in hope of My favour; fear My wrath; delight to do My will. Let all the powers of thy mind, under the influence of these affections, be given to Me. Let thine understanding be employed in comprehending and admiring My works, and ways; thy conscience in approving and disapproving according to My holy will; thy will in yielding an implicit conformity to Mine; thy memory in retaining the instructions and consolations of My Word." II. HOW REASONABLE IT IS TO GIVE GOD OUR HEART. If a fellow-creature is entitled to our affections because of his moral excellences, how much more God, who possesses these excellences in infinite perfection! III. HOW BLESSED IT IS TO GIVE GOD OUR HEART. IV. HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GIVE GOD OUR HEART. Without giving the heart to God all our works are only varnished sins, splendid vices, pleasing abominations. And further, it is the giving of the heart to God that prepares us for a better world. V. HOW WE MAY BE ENABLED TO GIVE GOD OUR HEART. (Miles Jackson.) Parallel Verses KJV: My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. WEB: My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.