A Man After God’s Heart
Acts 13:13-22
Have you ever seen a gravestone that had etched upon it a poignant epitaph of the person buried there? It is not uncommon to see something like “Devoted Mother” or “Beloved Friend” on these markers. In the far future, after we all have passed on, what would you want someone to see on your tombstone? What epitaph would summarize the best part of your life?
In the book of Acts, we see how the mighty King David was remembered by history. In a sermon to a group of primarily Jewish men, the apostle Paul refers to David, who of course was well known to the audience. Remembering all of David’s great accomplishments during his reign, how does Paul describe him? He declares that he was the one man whom God called “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:14)
What does it mean to be a man after [God’s] own heart? For David, it required an intimate relationship with God. (Psalm 63:1, 6-8) This entails much more than a regular routine of rote prayers; rather, this intimacy is founded upon an intense yearning to grow as close to the Father as possible. (Psalm 42:1)
What would it take for you to be described as a man or woman after God’s own heart? What activities would need to be removed? What practices would need to be added? Ask God for His help in making these adjustments—and for the commitment to make this epitaph the goal of your life.
Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries