Have we ever entertained the possibility of our hearts growing bigger? Receiving the capacity to take in what the Holy Spirit would lavish upon us if we just asked. This largeness of heart is what frees us from the monotony of everyday life. While disappointment shrinks the heart and hinders it from dreaming. A large heart is one that gives no place inside its core being for disappointment to live. This doesn’t mean that we don’t experience disappointment, it just means that because of the vastness of the heart we have more room to maneuver past any regrets. The larger our hearts are the more we can break the vicious cycle of addictions that plague our society and ourselves. With a large heart, we will see others who are enslaved as victims. By seeing people this way it makes grace possible and we become less vulnerable to assumptions about their behavior.
However, there is another reason why we should desire a bigger heart, and that is to believe what Jesus says about us even when we think we have failed Him. When the heart is broken and undersized there doesn’t seem to be much space for truth to penetrate. When my heart has shrunk in volume because of my wrong behavior I don’t receive the message of God’s enormous love for me. That’s why Jesus asked Peter three times “do you love me?” Peter’s heart had diminished because of his denial and the Lord was enlarging the Apostle’s heart. Which speaks to us that in order to forgive ourselves, it takes a large heart.
Here we witness grace at work, imparting to Peter a heart to love God, his neighbor and himself. As I’m interacting with people across the world, especially those that have gone through horrific things and have triumphed in life. I can’t help but be aware that Jesus Christ bestowed upon them a heart that was large enough to overcome divorce, depression, poverty and even death. Which speaks to me that the real heroes are the people who have the most spacious heart, and have allowed God in. These heroes aren’t trapped inside by their emotions or their past, because of the enormity of their hearts they seem to have more energy for God and for others. They take upon themselves what others define as difficult and find ways to make life work. They use their imaginations to continue to be both creative and innovative. Because their hearts are large, there are no limitations to what God can accomplish through them. Patience and wisdom is the fruit of how vast their hearts are. They seem to possess a strength that pulls others into a range of opportunities.
Let us worship today and be thankful that He has given us a large heart, and that our reply would be “Lord, You know I love.”
Sincerely,
John Harke Team
