A lady who had been mistreated by her husband, said: “He’s mean but he has a good heart.” Her pastor corrected her. “No,” he said, “he has a bad heart.”

The pastor was right. Our actions reveal what is in our heart. Jesus said: “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34-35).

The human heart has immense potential for evil: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Salvation is the result of believing in one’s heart: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10.9-10).

One who has been born again must be careful to keep his heart right. Sin must be confessed. Forgiveness of others must be his continual experience. The Psalmist prayed well: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

How can we keep our hearts right? Here’s the answer: “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O Let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:10-11).