95. Прямое и кривое дерево

As a straight and crooked tree, so is a right and wrong heart. Like a straight and crooked tree, so a right and a wrong heart - straight and crooked do not get along; so there is no similarity or agreement between a right and a wrong heart. But let's see what the right and wrong hearts are like, and we'll see what the difference is between them and whether there can be any agreement between them. A right heart fears God, but a wrong heart does not have the fear of God. The right heart follows God and His holy will, while the wrong heart follows its evil will and its own whims. The right heart of everyone is wary of sin, but the wrong heart does not care about it. The right heart humbles itself and thinks humbly, while the wrong one is exalted and wise. The right heart thinks about heaven and strives for future blessings, while the wrong heart thinks about earthly things and unites itself with the vanity of this world. The right heart loves every person and does not take his love away from those who hate him, but the wrong heart only loves those who love him, and often hates them too. The right heart treats its neighbor simply, unflatteringly and unhypocritically. But an unjust heart deals deceitfully, deceitfully and hypocritically with every person. The right heart, which it has on its tongue and declares in words, has within itself, and thinks. But an unjust heart speaks differently, thinks differently, speaks differently, and has something within itself. The right heart neither desires nor touches the good of others. But a wrong heart wants this and stretches out its hands to it. The right heart wants and tries to do good to everyone. But a wrong heart does not care about that. The right heart does not do what it does not want for itself, and does not do to its neighbor. But an unjust heart does to its neighbor what it does not want for itself: it condemns, slander, slander, blaspheme and scold its neighbor, although it itself extremely does not want this for itself. The right heart does not take revenge for an insult, endures and forgives. But a wrong heart does not want to tolerate any insult, although it itself offends everyone. A right heart, although it stumbles and falls, immediately gets up with repentance. But a wrong heart, once fallen, always lies there. A right heart thanks Him for everything it receives from God. But the wrongdoer forgets all God’s good deeds. The right heart endures in misfortune and the suffering that occurs. But the wrong is indignant, grumbles, and often blasphemes. The right heart honors God in truth, in spirit, and in zealous obedience. And what is wrong is only with the lips and appearance. The Lord says about such people: “This people draws near to Me with their lips, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8; Isaiah 29:13). The right heart attributes every good thing it does to God, as the Source of all good. And a wrong heart is for itself and its efforts. A right heart undertakes its actions for the glory of God and the benefit of its neighbor. But a wrong heart does everything for its own praise and vanity, etc. You see the image of a right and wrong heart. Think for yourself what similarities and agreement there may be between them. What does light have in common with darkness, sweet with bitter, white with black, straight with crooked? Do not seek, do not seek peace and harmony between an evil wife and a good husband, and a good wife and an evil husband; between an evil mother-in-law and a good daughter-in-law, and an evil daughter-in-law and a good mother-in-law; between an evil and a good brother, between an evil and a good sister, between an evil and a good neighbor, and between every evil and good person. No, there was not and cannot be peace and harmony between them. This is what the Lord is talking about: “Do you think that I have come to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division; for from now on five in one house will be divided, three against two, and two against three: the father will be against the son, and the son against the father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Luke 12:51-53). They will certainly be divided with each other, when some will follow Christ – the Light, and others will follow darkness, some will think about things above, and others will think about earthly things. Straight wood is suitable for any purpose; anything can be made from it; and a crooked tree is good for nothing. So a right heart is suitable and necessary for every rank and title and general benefit; and a wrong heart is not suitable for any title or rank. Wherever it is, it will follow its own will in everything, and not God’s, everywhere it will seek its own nasty self-interest, and not the common good. Turn, man, to God, and correct yourself, and follow the will of God, and you will be an upright tree, and your deeds will be right. “To those who walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and on the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16). But an unjust heart is deprived of all this, and “the wrath of God remains on it” (John 3:36). “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from Me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit” (Ps. 50:12-14). Pray, Christian, with all zeal, so that God Himself will correct and correct your heart with His grace. Without her, our heart cannot be right. When the grace of God dwells and lives in your heart, you will be renewed, changed and corrected day by day. You might be interested in: