The heart is central. That I would even need to remind you of this only shows how far we have fallen from the life we were meant to live—or how powerful the spell has been. The subject of the heart is addressed in the Bible more than any other topic—more than “works” or “serve,” more than “believe” or “obey,” more than money and even more than worship. Maybe God knows something we’ve forgotten. But of course—all those other things are matters of the heart. Consider but a few passages:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5) [Jesus called this the greatest of all the commandments—and notice that the heart comes first.]

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11 NASB)

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Matthew 15:8)

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

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