Here, a few distinctions between the spiritual heart God wants and fleshly heart are specified in four respects. Why don't you check how much of the spiritual heart you have accomplished?
Heart of Yielding vs. Heart of Surpassing
Heart of yielding is far from untruthful heart that shrinks, shifts its responsibility, and retreats indecisively in order not to take on difficult tasks. But it neither shows off due to humbleness, nor does it insist on the truth in its own way. It does not desire to receive recognition for its contributions. Like the heart of an unworthy slave, it always considers others and tries to make peace with them in the truth. One with such a heart desires to serve, so they maintain peace and happiness in them all the time.
However, it is from the heart of flesh if you have desire to surpass others, if you want your name and credits to be revealed, and if you hope to be recognized more than any others. You usually desire praise and recognition because you feel that you have made the effort and have gained something to proudly display. However, if you are humble, you feel that you have done only that which you ought to have done though you really have put a great deal of efforts; it is of the heart of spirit. You may actually feel embarrassed if you are recognized more than others.
Unlike things explained above, some people do not take the lead and just shy away because they are not confident and they think they have no power. They might mistakenly think they have no desire to surpass others or show off, but the fleshly attribute can be shown when they take charge of something they can do well or they get something to be boastful about. When things do not go as desired, fundamental attributes such as discomfort, displeasure, and conflicts come out. Therefore, we must have discernment in every kind of situation in terms of whether or not we should make our voice heard even if we think we are right.
Heart of Understanding vs. Virtuous Superiority
'Understanding' can be said to be an attribute that sees others' strengths and their goodness. With it, you can overlook their deficiencies and think through their hearts and understand why they have done something from their position or situation. You believe that they will be changed when God's grace is given to them even if they are currently short of something. You encourage and help them to achieve goodness diligently. With such understanding and goodness, others will open their hearts to you and heartily communicate with you.
Without the heart of understanding, discord or dissension naturally occurs. You cannot understand others if you think solely from your point of view and position and seek your own benefit. You must be aware that faith, growth background, education, capability, and personality differ from person to person and that others are not perfect just as you are not always perfect.
A man with the heart of spirit covers up others' faults and thinks in goodness by understanding their situations. Before judging others with his own yardstick of the truth, he can first feel their pain, so he just laments for them and together with them.
If you think you are having trouble because of others, it shows that you have not put yourself in their shoes. If you think like that—thinking in your own shoes, you cannot help but be troubled. However, if you understand in their shoes, you don't have to experience difficulty or lose peace. You will feel God's heart and love and receive blessing when you always try to understand in goodness and achieve the heart of spirit even in afflictions.
Heart of Acknowledgment vs. Heart of Excuses
A spiritual man admits his own shortcomings and faults when he hears advice or reproof. His feeling does not get hurt and rather gives thanks even though a little man or his fellow worker points him out as well as his superior does. He thinks that they have made a comment on his fault for the sake of his benefit, so he can thank them. Even if their comment is not correct, they humbly accept it and check themselves once again. He always has in mind that his deeds may not seem right or respectable in others' sight.
On the contrary, fleshly men make excuses and give reasons for their mistakes when they are reproached or admonished. They even feel displeased or have ill-feeling against the person who gives them advice, thinking he gets them wrong.
Men of spirit recognize others' good and strong points, but men of flesh do not acknowledge what man with little faith has accomplished with his best dedication because they think he lacks something. This is because the men of flesh see everybody in their own standard. Also, others' weak points come to their mind due to jealousy and envy in them, so they cannot praise others' forte.
However, men of spirit want others to be better off and perceive others' strong points even there are not so many. And they help them improve their strength and mend their weak points.
Changing Heart vs. Unchanging Heart
Men with the heart of spirit do not change in giving thanks for the grace they have received. They always keep it in their hearts with longing to repay it more than they received. They do not think, 'I've paid back His grace. It is enough'. They give thanks for it without changing both when they are joyful and full of the Spirit and when they are having a hard time. And they do not stop showing love for the Lord in deeds.
On the contrary, those with the fleshly heart have a changing of heart or deeds when things around them do not agree with their benefits after repaying the grace for a while. They joyfully and thankfully fulfill what they vowed before God at first but later they feel coerced. Furthermore, some of them fail to carry out their vows and violate them. As a result they end up in trials, tests, and afflictions.
Men of spirit do not change in following others as well. This is because they hope to achieve the greater heart of spirit by learning from whom they follow. Their ultimate goal is to accomplish the heart of complete spirit, so they can act beautifully in goodness.
Haven't you wanted to surpass others and enjoy the glory rather than yielding? Haven't you troubled others in thinking from your own positions without understanding? Haven't you felt disheartened and excused your faults when you are pointed out? Haven't you changed in paying back the grace you have received due to the heart to seek your own benefit? We hope this provides the opportunity to check your heart.
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