Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

HEART GATES: OPEN AND SHUT

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. . .” Prov. 23:7.

To think in one’s heart is to open the gate of the heart to that specific subject matter. This is a picturesque concept that the Hebrews knew only too well. The idea is driven home by the realities of the city of Jerusalem, a city of gates.

It was not a difficult matter to determine the business at hand in the lives of folks in Jerusalem. All one had to do was observe which gate they were using. A brief survey of a map of the ancient city reveals a number of gates. There was the Fish Gate; the Sheep gate, the Golden gate; the Dung gate, etc. All one had to do was observe the gate being used to determine what was on one’s mind: his business at the moment. If he were using the Fish gate, he was buying or selling fish. If he were using the Dung gate, he was going to or coming from the garbage dump. If he were using the Golden gate, he was coming from or going to the Temple. If he were using the Sheep gate, he was buying or selling sheep, usually as sacrificial animals. So on it goes.

It remains just as certain today that whatever one (gates) opens his heart to, particularly as habitual, so he is, and so he will be understood and identified. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, and/or a person acts. One must be careful how he opens the gates to his heart. It also follows that if one opens the gate of his heart to the Word of God, and meditates on God, and on the things of God, it will be known to all. That will be the traffic of his life; the evidence indisputable, and the observance by others certain. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he . . .” To this, the beloved Apostle Paul adds: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8. With the help of God, one may control what he meditates on in his heart. Reject some things, and specifically admit some things by following this biblical advice.

FOR THOUGHT: Did you know there is danger in entertaining illicit and evil thoughts? Every person in prison thought about doing evil before doing it. When an evil thought knocks on your mental door, do you invite it in and give it the easy chair? Will you try Phil. 4:8 next time?