October 27

Oct 27 - Today from Proverbs 27 we look at verse 19
"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."

Back in the days when the Proverbs were written, they did not have mirrors as we know them today. If any were fortunate enough to possess a mirror, it probably would have been some sort of flat metal object with a highly polished surface. You can imagine the high possibility for distortion. But there was a flawless reflective process available to everyone - a dish or bowl of water set on a stable surface. By combining the property of water with the effect of gravity, the surface of the bowl of water would be flawless, and would perfectly reflect the face of the person looking into it. The Teacher could think of no better analogy for providing a picture of understanding the true character of a person. One can get some sense of who a man is by the things he owns. But that would still leave room for flaws in the reflection. One can get some sense of who a man is by his occupation. But that would still leave room for flaws in the reflection. One might get some sense of who a man is by what he says about himself. But that would still leave room for flaws in the reflection. One might get some sense of who a man is by what others say about him. But that would still leave room for flaws in the reflection. How can we best know who a man is? By discerning what is in his heart.
We can get some sense of who God is by observing the beauty and precision of His creation - but we still could not understand His character. We can get some sense of who God is by studying His law - but we still could not understand His character. We can get some sense of who God is by witnessing His miracles - but we still could not understand His character. We can get some sense of who God is by what others say about Him - but we still could not understand His character. How can we best know who God is? By discerning His heart. The chorus from the hymn Near to the Heart of God says 'O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God'. Hebrews 1:3 says it so beautifully; "The Son is the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His being." If we want to know who God is; if we want to understand God's character; if we want to discern God's heart; we see Jesus. The heart of Jesus emanated the love and grace of God. The heart of Jesus was to search and to save. The heart of Jesus was to serve. We can get a sense of God's power and glory by observing His creation, but we can only truly understand His character by seeing Jesus' heart.
Jesus says to us, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another." You cannot fabricate the love of God, and you cannot fake the love of God. You can only receive it and let it flow from your heart. Paul writes in Romans 5:5, "God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." People can know something about us by what we own, by our occupation, by what we say about ourselves and by what others say about us - but people can only truly know our character by what is in our hearts. If Christ rules in our hearts, His character will be reflected. If we rule our own hearts, we misrepresent Him to the world. The greatest characteristic of His heart was love through service.
A man may espouse the great doctrines of God; he may be in church every time the doors open; he may place huge sums in the offering plate; he may be highly esteemed in the community; but his true character will be reflected in his heart. If he does not have a loving, serving attitude, he is not fit for the kingdom of God. Am I overstating the case? Read 1 Corinthians 13. It's God's Word.