160926:61

Are You Wholeheartedly His?

[NIV*] 2 Chronicles 25:2 “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly”

   Religion may well ask “Are you in or are you out”? But instead God asks us “How far in are you”? His interest is in an active relationship. Before a man’s wedding the question isn’t “is he really married, or just say a little bit married”?

   Everything God does is to have His people “really in” wholeheartedly. Some translations would say .. “a perfect heart” .. “not with a true heart” .. or ..”But did it reluctantly”. In Revelation [NKJV*] 3:15/16 “ I know what you have done, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 But since you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I’m going to spit you out of my mouth” It is possible to right in his eyes. But, not in a way that demonstrates a real relationship. Following His rules is never enough for our Father, character and heart seem assured far more than anything else.

   No one truly ever impressed their spouse; their boss; or commanding officer with either a “half-hearted” or “imperfect-attitude”. The good news for you here is that our Lord and Saviour in Christ Jesus is that you are given a whole heart to be his, how awesome can this be?

[MSG*] Jeremiah 24:7 “And I’ll give them a heart to know me, God. They’ll be my people and I’ll be their God, for they’ll have returned to me with all their hearts”

   Surely just as he talks about giving us a ‘new’ heart, it be just as in Romans 12:2 which tells us .. “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” .. This speaks to being a Christian, we become transformed from our old ways. Ways we no longer wish to, thus we are a ‘new creation’. That is we are now reborn, ‘born again’.

   If your walking down a road and stumble into on coming traffic. But a stranger grabs you and in turn stops you from being run over, you would not just say ‘thanks as you walk on. You would be enthusiastic, shaking their hand; all but shouting it from the roof tops with the worlds largest & loudest speakers system to announce it. Now that would be ‘wholeheartedly’.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, I see that I need to know your will more closely. You are the creater of the Heavens and the Earth, I humble myself before you as I wish to know your will wholehearted. I the name of your Son who sits at your right hand I pray. 

Amen

*Message Bible Translation

*New International Version

*New King James Version