The consistent message through all of God's Word is that He is calling us back to a restored relationship with Himself - a relationship which is only possible through faith in Jesus. We enter in by His loving grace, but His expectation for this relationship is that, through faith, we give Him ALL of our heart.
If we desire this restored relationship with God - if we desire to truly "find" Him - then our heart must be fully devoted to Him; there can be no rivals or competing affections which pull us away. When Jesus was asked to name the most important commandment, He replied, "Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" Mark 12:30. All means ALL - no cheating or deceiving!
Our Heavenly Father desires that we give Him our love honestly and completely; "You must have accurate and honest weights and measures. For the Lord detests anyone who deals dishonestly" Deuteronomy 25:15-16. It's foolish to think we can cheat God and withhold even a small portion of our heart, for in doing so we ultimately cheat ourselves.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38
God has promised to bless those who come to Him with a true and uncompromising faith in Jesus. His blessings include the right to be called children of God, as well as the inheritance of eternal life. But His blessings also extend to our days on earth as we receive the gifts of true joy, peace, and contentment.
When we understand the concept of true blessings, it should not be surprising that the measure we receive from God is directly related to the measure we use to give back to Him. Our blessings graciously flow as we give Him our worship and obedience, as we desire to walk in His presence and praise Him with every breath.
Our dealings with God become dishonest and deceitful when we expect a full measure of His blessing of peace, clear direction, or even assurance and freedom from doubt, and yet we cheat Him with every measure we return. Let's be restored and truly receive the full measure of His blessing. Let's enter into His presence and, each and every day, give Him the full measure of our heart.
- steve troxel
No comments:
Post a Comment