The Heart of Man is What Matters

A dear sister was sharing that her children would obey her but would declare that they were only doing it to keep from being punished.

I too experienced this with my children. They would obey me but acted angry that they had to do it.

I shared with her a story I heard some years ago.

"This reminds me of the little boy who was told by his father to sin in the chair for his punishment. The little boy declared loudly, "I am sitting down on the outside but am standing up on the inside."

I think we see this in our society as a whole. Many people will only submit themselves if there is something in it for them. They do not have a servant's heart, nor do they have a heart that wants to please God. We know this by how much of the bible they violate continually and even argue to defend their sin.

God looks at the heart!!!!

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Luke 6:44-46 "…44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 46 Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?…"

Yes: "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

When someone says they are obeying on the outside but do not want to on the inside, then they are not obeying according to God's Word and there is no love.