The Heart of Who I AmSample

There’s a good chance that who you are as a person is good. You likely see yourself as someone who doesn't really want to cause trouble or get in the way. Chances are you have attended a church at some point, have given someone a hug in a time of need, or even have volunteered at a community, school, or religious event.

There's a good chance the heart of who you are is good, and that's, well, good because 1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that "the Lord doesn't see things the way you see them... the Lord looks at the heart."

But if we keep reading into the New Testament, we see Jesus himself reveal His heart to others. In Matthew 5, Jesus' compassion for others was not kept within Him but, rather, was exemplified as He proclaimed blessings on those who were poor, in mourning, humble, and wanted justice. We see Him in Matthew 14 have compassion on the crowds, healing them and feeding them.

Jesus didn't keep the heart of who He was within himself. Instead, His confident compassion and humble, others-focused mindset drew thousands His direction and pointed them toward a loving Heavenly Father.

And isn't that how we want to be? Don't we want to "let [our] good deeds shine all for all to see so that everyone will praise [our] heavenly Father"? Don't we want to be like Jesus? (Matthew 5:16)

At the end of this devotion, my prayer is that you'll be able to say, with confidence, "Goodness, kindness, friendliness, and showing others the love of Jesus is the heart of who I am - and others can see that heart in my words and actions."