The King of Hearts

We don’t really know other people’s situation or how God has prepared their heart to respond or react to what we do or say. Just as God hardened Pharaoh’s heart when Moses wanted him to let the people go, he prepares hearts to be softened to allow us to witness to them. God knows who will accept Him and reject Him.

Exodus 10:27 “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go.”

We don’t really know what other people have seen in their past. We don’t know how they grew up, what experiences they had to deal with as a child and a young adult. We don’t really know how they were treated by others. However, God knows and has prepared their hearts based on these things.

We also don’t really know what others have been exposed to. We don’t know what has even happened to them this morning before we saw them. We don’t know what happened last night. So we can’t always understand their reaction to certain things. God knows what has happened and is preparing their hearts.

There are many Bible stories about others witnessing miracles where God showed His mighty power through others. Most people who witnessed these miracles either became angry or fearful. The people’s hearts were either hardened or softened from what they observed. God puts people in certain places to see certain things for a reason. We don’t always know that reason or why people react as they do.

Two people can react differently to the same situation. A person can walk up to them and say something and one of them could laugh and the other may cry. Two people can watch the same thing and one may become sad while the other may become angry. This is usually due to what is in their hearts. Only God can prepare hearts by experiences. We can’t change what others hold in their hearts. Only God can.

We can’t really know what is in the hearts of others. We can observe how they react and respond to things; however, how things appear on the surface may not always be how the person is feeling inside. They may lash out in anger when they are really hurting inside. They may laugh off something that really upsets them. They may hide their bitterness that is buried deep within them by pretending to be kind.

Proverbs 26:24-25 “People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.”

Since we can’t really know what is in the hearts of others, we each need to examine our own hearts. Are we allowing God to use our heart for good or evil? What is it that we actually hold deep in our hearts? If we spend time worrying about what is in the hearts of others and trying to change their hearts, we aren’t allowing God to work in our own heart or trusting Him to work in theirs.

Matthew 12:34b-35 “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.”

We need to care for our hearts by filling them with God’s treasures, by reading His word and obeying Him. We need to let Him handle the hearts of others; however, we need to show consistent love and kindness toward others. We don’t know what God is preparing their hearts for so it is best to treat others as we want to be treated and let God handle their hearts. When we allow God to handle these things, then He can allow us to make a difference. He is the King of Hearts.

Deuteronomy 30:6 “The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!”