A Person After God’s Own Heart

At Renaissance (my church), we have begun to say in our bulletin that “we are a people seeking after God’s heart.” It sounds pretty cool. I like it (I hope so, I’m the one who put it on the bulletin). Acts 13:22 says David was a man after God’s own heart. But, in the last week I have been asking myself, ‘What does it mean to be a person after God’s own heart?” After thinking and reading scripture, I began to write a few things down. Here is my list, what do you think? something to add? Clarify? Because I think if you asked the average person (Christian or non-Christian) if they could get a look into the heart of God, would they be interested, I think they would say yes. Here is some thoughts from His own word, the Bible.

What does it mean to be a person after God’s own heart?

• Acknowledges God as Creator (Genesis 1:1, Job 38:4)
• Loves His lordship, mastery over your life (Psalm 23:1, John 10:14, Psalm 95:6)
• Enjoys  & trusts in His word (Psalm 18:30, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119)
• Loves righteousness (Proverbs 15:9, 1 Timothy 6:11)
• Loves church and is committed to her (Ephesians 5:25, Acts 2:42, Hebrews 10:23-25, 1 Corinthians 12)
• Thankful for salvation (Psalm 136, Revelation 11:17)
• Loves the redemption story (Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-25, 30-31)
• Waits, rests, trust in the Lord (Psalm 37, Proverbs 3:5-6)
• Looks forward to His future kingdom
• Humble (Matthew 5:3)
• Defines truth, right and wrong, good and evil by Christ (John 14:6, John 5:22-23)
• Is patient, kind, not rude, forgiving, merciful, gracious with people (1 Corinthians 13:1-7, Matthew 5:7,9)
• Admits and confesses sin on regular basis (1 John 1:9)
• Against sin, hates it, forsake it (Ezekiel 33:11)
• Agrees sin deserves His wrath (John 3:36, Romans 6:23)
• Believes that apart from God man is utterly sinful (Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10-11, 23)
• Believes salvation is not obtained by good works but by grace (Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Believes that Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 3:16-18,36; 14:6, Acts 4:12)
• Believes in a literal heaven and hell and that people will go there for eternity (Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 25:41-46, Revelation 20:10-15)
• Believes God is good, holy, just, and perfect
• Desires to live a life pleasing to the Lord (Ephesians 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:9)
• Loves God’s word and is willing their life to change based upon what He has declared (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12-13)
• Is not self seeking (James 3:13-16)
• Not ashamed of Jesus and His word (Romans 1:16, Matthew 5:10-12, Mark 8:34-38)
• Is forgiving, patient, kind, not rude, not boastful, not prideful, yet sacrificially loves others (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
• Desires for God to be glorified in their lives (1 Corinthians 10:31)
• Finds Him so satisfying that they are willing to follow Him regardless of family, culture, or persecution
• One who loves God above all things (Mark 12:30), and wishes to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29)

When I look at this list, and it is not even complete, I see how short I fall. But, I pray everyday “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11).

On this first real post on my new blog, I wanted to be clear what is most important…knowing God