THE OVERSEER

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" Hebrews 12:15 KJV

One of the most powerful verses in the New Testament is Hebrews 12:15. I want you to especially notice the words “looking diligently” in this verse. This phrase comes from the Greek word "episkopos", taken from the two words "epi" and "skopos". The word epi means "over", and the word skopos means "to look". When these two words are compounded into one word as in Hebrews 12:15, the word means "to look over or to take supervisory oversight".

You are the overseer of your own heart and as the overseer, it is your responsibility to look over, guide, direct, and give oversight to what goes on inside your emotions and thinking. You alone are responsible for what you allow to develop inside your head and heart. Like an overseer, you are personally responsible for both the good and the bad that occurs within your thought life.

The text verse says, “Looking diligently.…” It takes diligence to keep your heart in good shape. The only way you can stay free of the weeds the devil wants to sow in your “garden” is to be attentive, careful, thorough, and meticulous about the condition of your own heart. Don’t let anything and everything get in you; and also don't expect others to take care of your heart for you either. It’s your heart.

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 4:23 

Declare This: Heavenly Father, I deal diligently with my heart to keep it in good shape. I don’t make excuses for whatever I allow in my heart because I am the overseer of my own heart. I refuse to let wrong attitudes fester or take root in me in Jesus name Amen.