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Tender Heart Checklist: 8 Characteristics Any Christian Must Possess In Order to Please God
Tender Heart Checklist: 8 Characteristics Any Christian Must Possess In Order to Please God
In Ezekiel chapter 11, God prophesied that He would return the captives back to the land of Israel and give them a “heart of flesh” and not a “heart of stone” (v. 19, 20). This prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Messianic era. We who were captives of sin have come to spiritual Zion, Christ’s universal church (Heb. 12:22), and have obtained a sincere, pure, tender heart (Heb. 10:22; 1 Ths. 3:13; 1 Tim. 1:5).
Do you possess this kind of heart? How does a person with this heart behave? The following list of seven characteristics—what I call the “Tender Heart Checklist”—answers these questions. Please check all that apply to you.
- Sincere desire to please the Lord. A disciple with a tender heart desires nothing more than to be found by God spotless and blameless (2 Pet. 3:14).
- Loving concern for brethren’s conscience. Be careful to do nothing that will cause a brother or sister do something against their conscience (1 Cor. 8:13).
- Openness to reason. Approach God’s instructions with an open mind, ready to receive His truth regardless of whether it fits your preconceived notions (Acts 17:11).
- Willingness to consider a different view. Genuinely listen to individuals who express a disagreement over some Scriptural point—in case you are incorrect (cf. Jas. 1:19).
- Patience to receive a rebuke. When someone accurately accuses you of sin, accept their rebuke eagerly and with gratitude (Prov. 15:31-32).
- Feeling of shame over sin. When you’ve transgressed God’s word, your conscience should bother you, leading you to feel guilty and ashamed (Psa. 51).
- Humility to admit wrongdoing. The shame of sinning should motivate you to freely confess your wrongdoing before God, if not before others (1 John 1:9; Jas. 5:16).
- Commitment to change your life. The tender-hearted Christian will make any changes necessary in order to fulfill God’s will and to grow to His glory.
If any of the above characteristics do not belong to us, we should pray that God will soften our hearts and make us more like His Son.
