Christian Living

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday August 9, 2006

After spending quite a bit of time talking with a couple going through the throes of an affair and now trying to patch things up, the lady said, "Pastor, it’s almost like I have two hearts, one loves my husband and the other heart, well you know."

Being of a 'double heart' is part of the human experience, though, thankfully it doesn't always manifest itself in adultery.

James does mention that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways, it possibly means the entire inner make up, thus including what we call the heart. Out of the heart proceed the issues of life, so getting the heart right is of paramount importance in times of decision.

I often advise people who are faced with big decisions to go through a heart cleansing procedure prior to reaching a final position. To answer the question, "Is thine heart right with God" is more important than any other fact under consideration.

Francis de Sales commented on this 'two' heart idea when he wrote:

"In a word, we are like the Paphlagonian partridge, which has two hearts; for we have a very tender, pitiful, easy heart towards ourselves, and one which is hard, harsh and strict towards our neighbor."

Most will admit to this concept of how we deal with one person in mercy and another guilty of the same offense in wrath.

Paphlagonia is now modern Turkey and there is some question about the partridge having two hearts, but legend or true, we humans certainly behave in many double hearted ways.

Elijah was attempting to deal with this Paphlagonian symptom when he asked the multitude, "How long halt ye between two opinions.." We have a time trying to get a clear mind on just whom we will serve. The Bible goes to extreme lengths to push us toward loving the Lord with our entire heart mechanism whether it be regular or Paphlagonian.

The Psalmist comments on this as do many other biblical writers:

Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

I have a friend, Dr. George Nika who pastored the same church for fifty years. Some years ago he lost the use of the bottom of his heart. This happened over ten years ago and we all accuse George of serving Christ in a half hearted way!

How many of the children of the Lord are ripped apart on the inside due to suffering from the Paphlagonian partridge syndrome? How about you?

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE