Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their MOUTHS and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their HEARTS far from Me” – Isaiah 29:13a                              

Knowing deep-seated in the heart what we know in the head is what it means to move from HEAD to HEART KNOWLEDGE: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their MOUTH and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their HEARTS far from me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men” (Isa.29:13). Isaiah described the spiritual stupor and blindness (vv.9-10) and the spiritual illiteracy (vv.11-12) of Jerusalem. The chief cause was a heart removed from God (vv.13-16). God didn’t move away. The people’s hearts did! They knew how to talk the spiritual talk, but their hearts were far from God. This manner of talking the talk, but not having the heart also manifested in Jesus’ day as He quoted this text from Isaiah when He rebuked the religious leaders of His day for their hypocrisy (Mt.15: 7-9; Mk.7: 6-7).

The people had no fear of God in themselves; it was only as commanded by others. Their hearts didn’t respond to God, only to men. Head knowledge relates to what we know about God and His Word; the truth we’ve studied, learned, and retained. Heart knowledge is about experiencing God and His Word. Head knowledge should always result in heart knowledge. We must not only know what God’s Word says in our minds, but believe in our hearts. When head knowledge becomes heart knowledge, we both know mentally and experience manifestly the beauty and reality of God’s Word and partake of the blessings. However, it can be hard to get the message from our heads to our hearts.

It’s possible to have “head knowledge” without its filtering down into “heart knowledge.” Deliberate decisions and actions are demanded, for what we take in about God with our minds to sink deep within our hearts: “Keep your HEART with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Pro.4:23). Why read about joy in the Bible, but meander throughout the day with low spirits. Why hear a message about patience; but before the day is out, all temper is lost. Some read books on Christian parenting, but can’t find time to read the Scriptures to their children or pray with them. Others teach about stewardship and tithing, and still slide into tight financial straits!

Someone can play church, disguise his true heart to others, and even fool himself, but God cannot be fooled. One can volunteer in ministry, donate money and receive accolades from other Believers, yet carry a heart that is yet to be transformed by the Grace of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, what we know to be true about God and His Word can move from our heads to captivate our hearts, by meditating on God’s Word, putting the knowledge of His Word to practice, and connecting His Word to our lives.