TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS

"Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom." (Psalm 51:5).

 

God desires that we be honest with Him.  He is interested in both what we do, and why we do it.  Our actions may seem good on the surface, but the Lord searches out our innermost intentions.  He examines our motives to see if our works are wrought in Him, or are "self" propelled.  In another Psalm, David says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23, 24).  David realized that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; therefore we need the Lord's help in discerning what makes us tick.

 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, Paul explains that if he were to possess the faith to move mountains, or give all that he had to the poor, or even give himself up as a martyr to the Lord, yet, if he didn't have charity (selfless, sacrificial love), he was nothing.

 

The Bible tells us to present our bodies as "a living sacrifice to God." (Romans 12:1).  As such, it is imperative that we be clean both inside and out.  Under the old covenant of the law, when beasts were brought before the Lord for sacrifice, they were slain and dissected by the priest, exposing everything that was inside to the light of day. (Leviticus 1:5, 6).  The sacrificial animals had to be "without blemish."(Leviticus 1:3, 10).  Potentially, a sacrifice could be rejected if, once it was cut open, it was found to be diseased. 

 

How can we ever be sure that our motives are right?  We must be willing to allow God through His Holy Spirit to examine us in the light of His Word.  "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12).  God's Word is that sharp scalpel, that two-edged sword, that dissects us right down to our innermost man.  Where could we hide from God's Spirit?  He sees and knows everything about us, and yet He loves us.  It is only His intent to perfect us, and transform us into the image of His dear Son.  "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." (Psalm 139:2-6).

 

 The apostle Paul warns us not to be conformed to this world,  allowing it to influence what we consider acceptable behavior.  Instead, he exhorts us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, letting God's Spirit work inside of us through Christ.  Our mind is the real battlefield in this war between Christ and Satan, and if we can win there, we will be, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5).  We will find ourselves truly transformed.  Paul also says that man is not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; or, as one translation puts it, "Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all." (Romans 12:3b - Phillips).

 

Don't ever be discouraged when you find the Lord is trying your motives.  He only chastens those whom He loves, and He only prunes those branches that He sees fruit on.  As His dear children, He simply wants to help us mature in Him.  Ultimately, everything we do as Christians reflects on our heavenly Father, so it is essential that our actions and our motives be pure and praiseworthy. 

 

"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:20, 21).