He means it. And it must be important.
He also realizes we tend to be a tad slow in ‘getting it’ as well. There’s a reason He likened us to sheep. I’m told sheep are not very bright animals.
Years ago when I was finishing up my degree to be a teacher, I remember hearing this nugget of info that always stuck with me: The average child needs to hear a certain truth or principal seven times before they ‘get it’. (I’m paraphrasing here). That is why there is much needed repetition of those learning blocks to be taught, in the younger grades especially.
I also remember hearing that when a child has learned something incorrectly, that it takes even more repetition …as if they need to ‘unlearn’ before they can ‘learn’ a certain truth. I’m going to assume you understand why this might be so. And remember, I’m talking about the ‘average’ child here. I know there are over-achievers out there who get it the first time and others…it takes even longer.
For those of you who would consider themselves to be students of the bible, or perhaps just life-long readers of it, are there any particular ‘themes’ or truths that you recall hearing over and over and over as if God was trying to make a point?
For me, there is one particular phrase uttered continuously throughout scripture that stands out and it’s one of those exhortations and ‘commands’ that when we hear it, we tend to nod our heads in agreement thinking…”oh yes…. Yes indeed…yes I do that for sure.”
The phrase first shows up in Deuteronomy 4 where Moses is preparing the people to take possession of the land that God has prepared for them. He acknowledges that they will most likely go astray…follow after other idols…most likely provoke God to jealousy by chasing after other gods…arousing His holy anger and in turn being scattered among other peoples. In other words they will be ‘like sheep who go astray’ and suffer the consequences.
But the people are reminded in vs 31 that God is a merciful God and that IF from their place of misery, they will ‘seek Him with all their heart and all their soul’, they will find Him.
“With all your heart”; …that’s the phrase I see and hear repeated often. Some might see the central theme of Deuteronomy being centered around ‘laws’ and rules but that would be at the expense of missing the main focus here.
God wants all our hearts.
I mean, ALL… our hearts.
If you read through Deuteronomy and all you see are ‘rules and regulations and laws’, you need to go back and read it again with fresh eyes. Most people would probably do well to revisit the book with a new set of eyes, especially if you are among those who see God as some disgruntled ‘cop’ who obsesses over people who ‘break rules’ or laws.
You see, the essence of all of God’s ‘laws’ can be summed up in this passage here: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deut 10:12-13)
Here’s a delightful morsel of hope for you to chew on… If/when a person turns totally…whole-heartedly to God….His laws are not burdensome…they are not grievous. They are not ‘difficult’ to keep or adhere to. In fact the psalmist make mention repeatedly of ‘loving His law, or ‘delighting in His Law’ and ‘meditating on His law day and night’ etc.
God. Wants. All. Our. Hearts.
And guess who affirmed all this OT repetition found on this ‘book of the law’?
Jesus did.
In fact, He tied it directly to how one finds eternal life, or as we like to say, ‘gets saved’.
Take a look at Luke 10. A certain lawyer came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. (vs 26-28)
Jesus asked him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it.”
Guess what the lawyer answered? – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus nodded in agreement saying “You have answered rightly; do this…and you will live.” (You will have eternal life…you will be ‘saved’…if you love God with all your heart)
So the ‘heart of the matter’ here is this: What does it really mean to ‘love God with ALL our hearts’?
How does one truly know if they do love God with ‘all their heart’? And does God really mean ‘all’ our heart? Or is it ok if we have good intentions or are ‘willing’ even if we don’t follow through?
This is what we need to ‘unpack here’ and spend some more time with…visiting this idea of whole-heartedness because after all, God tells us that it is for our own good that we do this…you know…love Him with all our hearts.
I will offer up this thought for you to chew on today…if there is something in God’s word that you are balking at, an area the Holy Spirit is dealing with you on and you are resistant to this…that is a good sign that there is something in your heart that you are loving more than God which would indicate that you are not loving Him with …all your heart.
Yeah…go back and read that one again, slowly.
Do you know why God points these things out in our hearts? Because it matters to Him. He knows if those things are not dealt with, that you will ‘go astray in your heart’ (Heb. 3:10)
God wants our hearts to be totally aligned with Him. This ‘walk of faith’ works so much better when they are. I mean…it makes all the difference in the world.
Have you ever noticed what happens to a car tire that is not perfectly aligned? It wears down quickly, which is how you can tell when its alignment is off…there is uneven wear. Another quick test I’ve always heard and found to be so is when driving down a straight highway that is relatively ‘smooth’ if you take your hand off the wheel, the car will drift to the right or left if its alignment is off, which is why you need to take it in to be checked. Your tires (and your wallet) will thank you.
I also have a pretty good hunch that the reason this bible remains a mystery to so many people is because God does not have all their hearts. Go read the parable of the sower again in Matt. 13….Jesus lets that secret out of the bag by telling His disciples (those who came to Him with all their hearts) what His word is ‘really saying’. But to those ‘on the outside’ he speaks in parables which keeps the word a mystery. (Matt. 13:11)
I know, I know, that’s not what way you or I would have scripted this…but that’s His plan, not ours.
Remember our friend, the rich young ruler we read about in the gospels who wanted in on this eternal life and discipleship thing? He was not ‘allowed in’. You know why? There was something in his own heart he was holding on to and loving more than Jesus. Do you recall what it was? (Matt. 19:16-22)
We’ll talk more about this in the next few days. I am returning home later today after long two weeks…first with those grandsons of mine and then an unplanned trip out to bury my 95-year-old father who passed away. I so appreciate all the heartfelt comments and prayers sent my way. I’d be lying to say my own heart has been through quite a ride…but it has not wavered and I am anxious to continue sharing with you as His faithfulness has continued to pour into me.
See you tomorrow?
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