He Knows My Heart

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Arthur Jackson and I titled our reading, He Knows My Heart. After a customer at a grocery store self-checkout station had completed her transaction, I made my way to the station and proceeded to scan my goods. Unexpectedly, a visibly angry person confronted me. I'd failed to notice that she was actually next in line for checkout. Recognizing my mistake, I sincerely said, I'm sorry.

She replied, though not limited to these words, no you're not. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were wrong, acknowledged it, and tried to make things right only to be rebuffed? It doesn't feel good to be misunderstood or misjudged, and the closer we are to those we offend, or those who offend us, the more painful it is. How we wish they could see our hearts. The prophet Isaiah's snapshot in Isaiah 11 1-5 is that of a God appointed ruler with wisdom for perfect judgment. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears, but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. This was fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus. Though in our sinfulness and weakness we don't always get it right, we can take heart that the all-seeing, all-knowing God of heaven knows us fully and judges us rightly.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 11 verses 1-5. A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. From his roots a branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him. The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding. The Spirit of counsel and of might.

The Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. And he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears, but with righteousness he will judge the needy. With justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. With the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. Shall we pray? Father, thank you for knowing everything about us.

Our words, thoughts, and actions. Please forgive us when we are harsh in our judgment of others because of our limited view of the situation. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Arthur Jackson, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.