"They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning." - 1 Chronicles 9:27
There were four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, who were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. Their work of guarding the house of God is a parable of sorts.
God calls us to guard our hearts, which is the house of God in us, the house of God's Son, Jesus, in us, the house of the Holy Spirit of God in us, and the house of God's Word in us. Your heart is very important as the home of the treasures of God.
This is why God both calls us to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.") and God also calls us to trust God to be the primary gatekeeper of our hearts (Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.").
If you'd like to read extensively on this matter of guarding your heart so your life can abound in Christ, I highly recommend John Eldredge's "The Sacred Romance", T.D. Jakes' "He-motions", Andy Stanley's "Enemies of the Heart", or Joyce Meyer's "Knowing God Intimately".
But to go ahead and wrap for today on this matter of guarding your heart, I recommend giving thought to an old, simple children's song, 'Oh Be Careful Little Eyes'
Lyrics:
Oh, be careful little eyes,
what you see (repeat)
For the Father up above,
is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes
What you see.
Oh, be careful little ears,
what you hear (repeat)
For the Father Up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little ears
what you hear.
Oh, be careful little hands,
what you do (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little hands
What you do.
Oh, be careful little feet
where you go (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little feet,
Where you go.
Oh, be careful little heart
whom you trust (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little heart,
whom you trust.
Oh, be careful little mind
what you think (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mind,
What you think.
Actions:
"eyes" – point to eyes
"Father" – point up
"looking down" – shade eyes
"love" – give self a hug
"ears" – point to ears
"hands" – hold out hands
"feet" – march in place
"heart" – point to chest
"mind" – point to forehead
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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