Good morning and a most blessed Thursday to you.

In our time of devotion together today, we are going to talk about giving our hearts to Jesus. What does that actually mean when we say, or when we're asked, if we have given our hearts to Jesus?

I'd like to begin with an excerpt from a wonderful book called The Hammer of God by Bo Giertz. This is a fictional book, but it has such amazing theological depth. If you've never read The Hammer of God, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is absolutely incredible.

The background of the story is that an elderly rector has been assigned a young assistant. The assistant is not particularly impressed with the older man. He thinks he is too jovial, too unconventional, perhaps even too human. In a moment of wanting to be open about his faith, the young assistant approaches the rector.

The assistant, Fridfeldt, sat down on the sofa. He felt he must not put off confessing where he stood. This strange old man with his brandy and his toy soldiers should at least learn what kind of assistant he had received.

"I just want you to know from the beginning, sir, that I am a believer," he said.

The rector looked at him and replied, "So you're a believer. I'm glad to hear that. What do you believe in?"

Fridfeldt was stunned.

"But sir, I am simply saying that I am a believer."

"Yes, I hear that, my boy. But what is it that you believe in?"

"In Jesus, of course," Fridfeldt answered. "I mean that I have given Him my heart."

The older man's face suddenly became very serious.

"Do you consider that something to give Him?"

We'll stop the excerpt there, though I encourage you to read the book for yourself.

The rector later goes on to say that our hearts are actually a terrible gift to offer because they are filled with sin and corruption. Yet that thought led me to reflect on what it really means to give our hearts to Jesus.

The truth is, I do want to give my heart to Jesus. But I realize that what I bring to Him is not my goodness or my own efforts. I bring Him a heart stained by pride, envy, covetousness, anger, and sin. I bring Him a broken heart so that He can mold it, shape it, and transform it into a heart that loves Him and loves others.

Left to myself, my heart seeks only my own good and my own benefit. Pride gets in the way. Selfishness gets in the way. I need Jesus to change my heart, because only God can create within me a heart that truly seeks Him and serves my neighbor.

In Isaiah 64:8 we read these beautiful words:

"Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand."

We are the work of His hands. Every time we engage with Him in prayer, every time we are in His Word, every time we receive Word and Sacrament, He is shaping and molding us, giving us the heart we so desperately need and cannot create for ourselves.

So when we pray, "Lord, take my heart," we are not presenting Him with something valuable. Rather, we are asking Him to take what is broken and remake it according to His grace.

Therefore, when someone asks if you've given your heart to Jesus, remember who is actually doing the work. It is never you or me. As we lay our sinful hearts before the Lord, He picks them up in His tender hands and shapes us so that we may love Him and love our neighbors as He intends.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Lord, we lay before You our hearts—hearts tempted by pride, envy, lust, covetousness, and anger. We ask that You would mold and shape us according to Your grace, Your Word, and Your will. Cleanse us from thoughts, words, and desires that are against You, and replace them with love for You and love for our neighbors.

Thank You that when we give You our broken hearts, You give us in return the righteousness that comes from You alone. Change us, mold us, and make us into the sons and daughters You have created us to be through Your grace alone.

This we ask in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have an amazing rest of your week. I look forward to our hearts being molded and shaped together even more this Sunday.

Until then, God bless.

Pastor Malinak