Luke 11:33-36 – Single Heart

When the Gospel is put before a man’s soul, it is as if God offers him a lighted candle. It is not enough to hear it, to agree with it, to admire it, and to say it is true. It has to be received into the heart, and obeyed in life. Until this happens the Gospel does him no more good than if he were someone who had never heard it. A lit candle is before him, but he is not using it.

Even when a man believes on Christ in his heart, valuing the light of the Gospel, he must be careful that he does not keep it to himself. He must try to share this light with all around him; to show them the truth he sees himself. He must live his life in such a way that people see Christ and the light of His Gospel.

Christ teaches the importance of a single and undivided heart in the things of God. The single heart is a heart which is not only changed, converted, and reborn; but thoroughly and regularly under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It is a heart that hates compromise, luke-warmness, and hesitation between God and the world. It focuses on one thing – the love of Christ dying for sinners. It has one goal – to glorify God and obey Him. It has one desire – to please God. These are the priorities of its life. The opinions of men matter very little to the single heart.

The man or woman who has a single heart will show Christ to all around them. Their family, their friends, their neighbours, their employer – all will see their faith and, whether they like it or not, be forced to admit that it is real. The man or woman of single heart has a joy and peace in their faith that lazier Christians never obtain. Their life is full of light.

Questions
1. What is the lit candle like?
2. How can we share our light with others?
3. What does it mean to have a single heart?

Prayer Points
1. Pray that we would have a single heart.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.