Open Wide Your Heart

This is the first part of a series on the heart. The Bible speaks about the heart repeatedly. What do we need to know about the heart? What kind of heart does God want us to have? We will find out in the upcoming week.

“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also” (2 Corinthians 6:11-13).

The heart. In many ways it is the center of our being. Physically, we need it to beat to stay alive. Emotionally, it:

Loves

Breaks

Softens

Hardens

Longs

Rejoices

Mourns

Closes

Opens

Ask yourself, “What is the state of my heart today?”

When the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians he had opened his heart wide to them, he is saying God increased his capacity to love them and that he loved them deeply, despite the Corinthians’ shortcomings, and their struggle with immorality. Paul desperately wanted the Corinthians to clean up their act.

Who has disappointed you?

Who has hurt you?

Who has fallen short of your expectations?

Open wide your hearts.

Paul understood what it meant to love someone enough to take a stand for the truth, even though it might mean the recipients of that truth would possibly close off their hearts to him.

Are you afraid to take that risk? When we love someone, we should love them enough to be transparent and honest.

What is your heart saying to you?

This week I spoke the truth in love about what I considered ungodly behavior in a couple of people close to me. It was difficult to do, because I was outnumbered. It would have been easier to keep my mouth shut. But I think my loved ones know my heart flows for them, despite how I feel about what they were doing. In the end, I can take a stand, but it’s the Holy Spirit who convicts.

I suspect not all the Corinthians appreciated Paul’s honesty with them and had closed their hearts toward him. In 2 Corinthians 7 he says, “Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you” (2 Corinthians 7:2-3).

When we speak the truth, we have to reinforce our love for the family member, friend or co-worker; whomever God calls us to be truthful with. We cannot speak the truth harshly or in judgment, or condemnation. We were never given that job.

Perhaps your heart is convicting you right now. Who are you brokenhearted for? Who needs to hear the truth?

Open wide your heart, and speak.