A Full Head Fuels a Full Heart

Photo courtesy of jeanniecunnion.com

Who knew that the book of Hosea had a LOT more to talk about than the prophet Hosea redeeming a prostitute and showering her with unconditional love?! In fact, I have been shocked to see the cross of Christ and the power of His resurrection within its pages this Easter week! Furthermore, I am finding that this little book has MUCH to say about the importance of biblical literacy and its effect on God's people.

Okay, I know "biblical literacy" sounds like a snoozer of a subject.  It sounds too much like school, which might be synonymous with dry, boring, and impractical for many of us. But stay with me, dear friend, because it is hardly that!

It's been said that the longest distance on Earth is the twelve inches between one's head and one's heart, and in some ways, I think that is true.  However, what I am seeing in the pages of Hosea speak to the direct connection between one's head and one's heart--namely, that knowing God's word with our minds actually ignites a passion for Him in our hearts and results in godly living.

Within the pages of Hosea, the prophet laments about the fact that the nations of Israel and Judah are idolatrous and unrepentant.  At this time in biblical history, we see a society that has largely forgotten God's law and has little to no biblical understanding.

Look at it with me in the following verses...

• "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.  And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children." Hosea 4:6

• "...a people without understanding shall come to ruin."  Hosea 4:14

• "Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after human precepts." Hosea 5:11 (Note: Ephraim was the largest tribe in Israel and sometimes the whole nation is referred to as "Ephraim" in the Scriptures)

• "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

• "Were I to write for him [Ephraim] my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing." Hosea 8:12

We see this trend begin to develop--when people do not know or forget God's word, they will fall away and be destroyed.  Why--because their heads are in the wrong place?  No--because their hearts are!  You see, the two are inexorably linked.

Author Donald S. Whitney, in his fantastic resource, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, speaks to the importance of learning for the purpose of godliness.  

"Why do many Christians live as though they've been told, 'Choose you this day whom you will serve: scholarship or devotion'? I maintain that a biblically balanced Christian has both a full head and a full heart, radiating both spiritual light and heat....Christians must realize that just as a fire cannot blaze without fuel, so burning hearts are not kindled by brainless heads.  We must not be content to have zeal without knowledge.  Does this mean we have to be brilliant to be Christians?  Absolutely not.  But it does mean that to be like Jesus we must be learners even as He was at only age twelve, 'sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers' (Luke 2:46-47)"

But don't just take his word for it.  Check out what theologian R.C. Sproul says about it...

"God has made us with a harmony of heart and head, of thought and action...The more we know Him the more we are able to love Him.  The more we love Him the more we seek to know Him.  To be central in our hearts He must be foremost in our minds.  Religious thought is the prerequisite to religious affection and obedient action."

And finally, late London preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds us: "Let us never forget that the message of the Bible is addressed primarily to the mind, to the understanding."  

Just like the nations of Israel and Judah back in Hosea's day, we need to open God's Word, read it, and study it!  We need to hotly pursue the Lord with our minds...and only THEN will our hearts be passionate for the things of God, resulting in transformed lives as we grow to be more like Christ.

So, dear friend, let us dive in and learn what God's word says, dear friend!  Let us talk about what it says with one another and with our children!  If you need help getting started, I'd encourage you to check out the following online resource:

She Reads Truth

The mission of She Reads Truth is to get every woman in the Word everyday, and they make it easy with reading plans, topical reading series, and they even have a mobile app to boot! (Note: while this resource is targeted toward women, anyone can benefit from it as it relates to reading God's Word!)

The important thing it to start SOMEWHERE--there are myriads of Bible reading plans, One Year Bibles, and online resources out there for you!  I pray God would bless you on your journey to hotly pursue Him with your MIND this week!