Heart Preparations There are the places where you can just stop in quickly order your food over the counter and get it in a bag to go. But then there are the sit-down places where you’re greeted by a server who introduces him/herself and lets you know they will be taking care of you. The experience at the sit-down place has much to do with the quality of the food, its preparation, and presentation, but it is also greatly affected by the quality of service, whether or not that server really has a heart for what they’re doing. The servers who you are more apt to reward are the ones who make sure your drinks are full, the table is cleared of unused dishes, and your meal is correctly and promptly served. But the server that really makes the meal something to write home about is the one who acts like they are more than thrilled to be caring for you. They’re not just doing it for the tips; they really care. You can tell it in their face, their gate, and their presentation. It’s not just a job, their heart’s really in it. In the presentation of the Source of Life who is more delectable than anything else they will consume, He alone is to be desired, but there is something about how He is served that will have everything to do with how He is experienced. It’s not enough to be carrying the glory out of obligation or compulsion. So much of the experience of Him has to do with a transformed life. The joy, peace, and love that comes from the one who serves Him will often determine the level of transformation that is encountered. It won’t just be that He was shared, but that there was real caring taking place. To be among those compelling them to come, it is most important to have experienced the heart transformation of the One to whom they are called to receive. He is the Bread of Life that will become life itself for all those who partake of Him, but what will really make the experience something to write home about will be the way His life was represented in the completely changed hearts that shared/served Him. Notes The Father’s Passion/Heart Jeremiah 24:7 (AMPC) 7 And I will give them a heart to know (recognize, understand, and be acquainted with) Me, that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. In Christ’s heart – strong passion/love Ephesians 3:17 (NLT) 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Zeal driven by knowing relationship John 2:17 (AMPC) 17 And His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Holy Scriptures], Zeal (the fervor of love) for Your house will eat Me up. [I will be consumed with jealousy for the honor of Your house.] [Psa 69:9] Fervent urgency John 9:4-5 (NLT) 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” Assignment Mark 16:15 (NLT) 15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Jesus’ heart – moved with compassion/prayer Matthew 9:36-38 (TPT) 36 When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus’ heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd. 37 He turned to his disciples and said, “The harvest is huge and ripe! But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in. 38 As you go, plead with the Owner of the Harvest to thrust out many more reapers to harvest his grain!” Serving with the whole heart - spreading Romans 1:9 (NLT) 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. Christ’s triumph in us - spreading 2 Corinthians 2:14 (TLB) 14 But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, he has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. To be immersed in Christ is to be enflamed with His purpose Matthew 3:11 (NLT) 11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Knowing Him produces a heart of urgency to tell Acts 1:8 (TLB) 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection.” Overview: The Father’s heart is for us to serve Him as our God with all of our hearts. In Christ we’ve been given His heart of love and driving passion. The heart of Jesus was zealous for the Father’s house and fulfilled mission. Jesus’ heart was moved with compassion for the lost and prayer for their harvest. Triumphant hearts find their joy in fulfilling the heart of the Victor. The Holy Spirit empowers to first know His heart and then fulfill His passion. Prayer: Father, here’s my heart to be enflamed by Yours. Fill me with a drive to be moved by what moves You. Free me from selfish motives and meaningless cravings to be driven by a heart that is full of knowing You by Your Spirit. Declarations: In Christ, I have been given a heart to know and serve the heart of the Father. The more I know Him, the more my heart is driven to care for what He cares for and fulfill His purposes. The Spirit fills me with an urgency to do what He’s assigned me while there is still time. Christ’s triumph in me empowers me to spread His good news like a natural inevitable fragrance. I am filled with the Spirit and fire to know and share the Light with a heart of true passion.