Original: September 19, 2007
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
I have owned three dogs in my adult life, all of which have been Labrador Retrievers.
I love labs and actually wrote a short book affectionately called, Jesse: The Chronicles of a Bird Dog and Best Friend. The book is not published and is a compilation of the stories surrounding my first Lab who died tragically in a car accident when she was 10. She was hit by it! That little 55 pound female could make retrieves that would make any proud shot gunner scratch his head in disbelief. She was the first Lab I ever knew to actually sit on point. When hunting a highly pressured area during California’s Band- Tailed Pigeon season she would only pick up warm or fresh birds. If you ever hunted Band-Tailed Pigeons around dozens of other hunters this is a big deal.
A good Lab is all about one thing-pleasing its master. I have seen Labs (with my own eyes) literally run themselves to death in order to please their master. It is the mater’s role to regulate an animal so loyal that it will kill itself to please. People love Labrador Retrievers for their heart. If you want a dog with heart I will choose a Labrador Retriever every time.
So, what is “heart” and what separates one heart from another? I am so glad you asked!
I define the heart as "who I am."
My heart is my core. It is my essence. It is my source. Every word spoken flows out of my heart (Matthew 12:34-36). Every motivation, dream, and ambition flows from the deep sources of my heart (Psalm 37:4). In John chapter 4 verse 14 Jesus told a Samaritan woman that, "…whoever drinks this water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (NASB). I believe he was talking about the heart. Religion tries to change the outside of a man but Jesus came to change the heart. He came to replace our heart of stone (hardness towards God) with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26). I actually believe, as did John Wesley, that it is possible in this life to obey Jesus’ command to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30-33).
Jesus wouldn't have commanded it if He did not expect it.
Jesus demands Labrador Retriever commitment from His men.
Verse 26 forces a man to answer the question, “How much of your heart really trusts in God's strength over your own? Is God truly your portion or just a portion of your portion?”
“God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” speaks of rhythm. It speaks of the movement between a man and His God. It is so easy for men to rely on their knowledge, experience, gifts, strengths, and abilities instead of God's. The godly man relies on something much deeper. His portion is found in the strength that only comes from keeping in perfect rhythm with His God.
A man must reflect on his heart every day. How much did God get today? How much did I steal from Him? How hard will I run for my Master?
