What does it take to have a transformed heart? And what would that look like? The Children of Israel are urged throughout Deuteronomy to remember where they have been. Moses pleads with them to remember the goodness of God in the wilderness so that they would remember the Lord, He is God and there is none other. But the sad part is, after all that they had seen, they still did not fully see God as precious, one to be treasured—hence why they kept falling so easily into idolatrous worship. Their minds were closed. Had they fully understood, they would have loved Him. And how would they show that love?
Obedience honors God. Rejoicing in Him honors God. And loving God with all your heart, mind, and strength honors God. But how do we get a transformed heart? Can we do that on our own? The children of Israel could not as we see in Deuteronomy 29:26
A Hardened Heart
“You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— 3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to [a]perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day. 5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 29:2-6 (NKJV)
What had it taken for these people to be prepared to go into the promised land? They had walked through the wilderness, facing trials, difficulties, and tests. Many had fallen along the way due to unbelief, blatant disobedience, and failure to love God as their greatest treasure.
30 The Lord your God is about to go[bl] ahead of you; he will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt[bm] 31 and in the wilderness, where you saw him[bn] carrying you along like a man carries his son. This he did everywhere you went until you came to this very place.” 32 However, through all this you did not have confidence in the Lord your God, 33 who would go before you on the way to find places for you to camp, appearing in a fire at night and in a cloud by day to show you the way you ought to go. Deuteronomy 1:30 NKJV
A Transformed Heart
Ah, but Moses continued to warn them that when they do not see God as precious, then they will fail again. Yet, there is hope. If when they see all these things, they turn to look for God, He will restore them. Furthermore,
the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6 NKJV
Cutting away the dead flesh surrounding our hearts at times can be a very painful process. So, God alone can give us a transformed heart, one that can love Him with all our mind, our heart, and our strength. Yet, He knows our joy is dependent on this. Our joy can only be full when we find our creator in all His glory as our greatest treasure.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
14 But their minds were closed.[ac] For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read.[ad] It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away.[ae] 15 But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds,[af] 16 but when one[ag] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.[ah] 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present,[ai] there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord,[aj] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another,[ak] which is from[al] the Lord, who is the Spirit.[am] 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 NET
15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as [b]by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NKJV
And we all having been unveiled in face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Berean Literal Study Bible
Concluding thoughts
A transformed heart can only be accomplished by God. So, what is our part? To turn to Him, to seek Him, and to rejoice in Him. And when we have a transformed heart, we see and reflect His Glory to the world. It is never our Glory; but His that shines forth to the world around us. When we know that, we can even rejoice in the trials and sorrows; because we know He is through them transforming us until one day, I will look like Jesus. One day, I will have a perfect transformed heart overflowing with joy, hope, faith, love and His Glory.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
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New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New English Translation (NET)
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