THE LORD SEARCHETH ALL HEARTS,

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

APRIL 20

 

1 Chronicles 28:9

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father,

and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind:

for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all

the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will

be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

 
Solemn thought!
 
Does he search my heart?
 
What does he find there?
 
Evil thoughts, foul corruptions, fearful depravity.
 
But is this all?
 
I trust not.
 
There are some good things toward the Lord God of Israel.
 
All my thoughts are not evil, and those which are - I hate.
 
It is not all corruption, there is a little correcting truth.
 
Especially when the Lord says, “Take heed to yourselves that your heart be not deceived.”
 
Satan will deceive us if he can.
 
Satan will try to conceal our defects, that he may lead us to presumption; and he will obscure our evidences, that he may drive us to despair.
 
If the Lord searches all hearts, hypocrisy must be the height of folly. It is impossible to deceive him.
 
We may provoke his wrath, but we can-not impose upon his mercy.
 
Let us then lay open our hearts before God.
 
Let us daily seek the renewings of the Holy Spirit.
 
Let us fly to the open fountain of a Saviour’s blood, and daily wash in the laver of God’s holy word.
 
Often let us cry with the Psalmist, “Examine me, O Lord,” And let us be sincere in all we profess, in all we say and in all we do.
 

In all my vast concerns with thee,

In vain my soul would try

To shun thy presence, Lord, or flee

The notice of thine eye.

 
James Smith