In the first place, we must understand that the contrite heart, the heart that pleases God, is a repentant heart and recognizes its faults. Who is the one who will have communion with God? «The clean of hands and pure of heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vain things, nor sworn deceitfully "(Psalm 24.4).
God has made it clear to us that the "wicked heart will turn away from Him" and that He "will not know the wicked" (Psalm 101.4). Thus, our prayer to God should be this: "Search me, O Jehovah, and prove me; examine my inner thoughts and my heart "(Psalm 26.2); «Create in me, O God, a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me» (Psalm 51.10).
Suppose the prodigal son had come to his father with a haughty and arrogant spirit, and not with the attitude of one who recognizes his sin. Would the father have received it? Jesus emphasized the contrition in the parable that he told about the two men who went to the temple to pray. One of these was a Pharisee, and the other acknowledged that he was a sinner. One was full of pride, and the other was contrite. The proud one prayed with himself, but the contrite one prayed to God.
The contrite heart is also a heart that lets itself be taught. Try to do God's will. Perhaps this is a truth that the Lord had in mind when He said that His disciples should become like children. We have to become like children, but not behave like children.
When Jesus presented the children's illustration before us, it is obvious that he was pointing out the kind of heart we must have. What is the most obvious truth about children? They allow themselves to be taught, they are receptive, trusting, pure and innocent. These are characteristics that we should emulate. A contrite heart longs to know the will of God, and receive it.
The third characteristic of a contrite heart is obedience to God. The contrite heart is obedient to God by nature. The contrite person prays, saying: «With all my heart I have sought you; Do not let me deviate from your commandments "(Psalm 119.10). The only aspiration he has is this: "Let my heart be whole in your statutes, lest I be ashamed" (Psalm 119.80).
Why did God reject Pharaoh? The Scriptures tell us that he hardened his heart against God. In other words, he rejected the will of God. The will of God, either makes us humble or hardens us. In the same way, the sun melts the butter, but the clay hardens. The contrite heart widens and is receptive to God's will and is thus molded by it. Unless the very center of our soul and the essence of our being are made obedient to the living God, He will not receive us.
Do you have a contrite heart? Contrition, that is, brokenness and repentance, is a whole that includes a heart that confesses its sins, lets itself be taught and is obedient. A person may die physically from internal bleeding, even if no visible wound is visible on the outside. In the same way, a Christian
can die spiritually because of a hardened heart, an indifferent heart or a mundane heart, before the condition becomes manifest to others. Such a person may attend the services, may participate in spiritual activities, and may read the Bible; and despite all this, your heart may not be contrite to God. It is not what happens to us, but what happens in us that affects our position before God.
To receive the saving power of Christ, one must die to oneself. Someone already said that in every heart there is a cross and a throne. If you put yourself on the throne, then Christ will be on the cross; for Christ to be on the throne, you must stand on the cross.
