Среда

(Acts 8:18–25; John 6:35–39) St. Peter says to Simon: “You have no part or lot in this, for your heart is not right before God. So, repent of this sin of yours and pray to God; Perhaps the thoughts of your heart will be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22). There is no part, and Simon didn’t even think that he had gone that far; and outwardly he did not do anything ugly, but only thought wrongly, and the thoughts of his heart did something that the apostle wondered whether it would be forgiven him, even if he repented and prayed to God. This is what the structure of the heart means, and the thoughts emanating from it according to a certain structure! Judging by it, a person is one thing from the outside, but something completely different from the inside. And this inner vision is seen only by God alone, and by those to whom the Spirit of God, searching their hearts, will reveal it. With what fear and trembling must one work out one’s salvation! And how sincerely and earnestly you need to pray to God: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 50:12) And at the trial there will be something terrible and amazing. The Lord will say: “I do not know you” (Luke 13:27) to those who were not only confident themselves that they were God’s, but also appeared to be such in the eyes of everyone. What remains for us? Just cry out: “In your destinies, save us, Lord!” *10. You yourself, as you know, give a saving system to our hearts! You might be interested in: