Open Your Hearts

It is a great thing when we recognize our need to have a wide-open heart so that we can receive more of what God can give us according to our receptivity.

It is sad when one is not in need of a greater fullness of the love of Christ—of genuine, unfailing brotherly love. Paul had a wide-open and good heart for the Corinthians and for all people. There was little room in the Corinthians’ hearts, and Paul exhorted them to open their hearts. It is good that this is possible by the grace and power that God gives. 2 Cor. 6:11-13.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19.

We will obtain the fullness of these riches according to our need. We need to draw from a fullness of goodness, so we can overcome evil with good. Rom. 12:21.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45. Either good or evil will flow out of our mouth.

We are filled with what we read, hear, and are interested in. Paul had a living interest in being filled with those things with which he could help the people. He writes in Romans 15:29, “But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” He lived a life of faith, and he knew that when he came he would come with the fullness of blessing.

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established . . . .” Rom. 1:11. “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.” V. 14. He knew that he had a bottomless debt of love when he considered that Jesus had redeemed every person with His precious blood.

We need a big, good, and wide-open heart so we can overcome the fullness of evil that is advancing from all directions.

Let us receive Paul’s exhortation, “Open your hearts!”