Wholeheartedness In Christ

2 Cor 11:2-3 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

One of the Lord's greatest desires for His Disciples is that He should occupy the throne of our heart - that our focus should be on Him and Him alone. The word "simplicity in Christ" refers to a  single-mindedness & wholeheartedness to our Lord Jesus. Paul says: There's so much that's happening in this present world which he is afraid will take our focus away from Jesus. Modern religion tries to add onto the cross of Jesus and even modern worship may detract the saint from his focus on Jesus & His sacrifice. In trying to perfect the form, people end up marring the spirit.

The following are six aspects of the wholeheartedness that God requires in our approach to Him:

1) SEEK HIM -  So that He may reveal himself to you

Man was created for fellowship with God and He comes seeking us more than often and He honors the earnest seeking and the desire of our heart to be joined in fellowship with Him. In Jer. 29:13, the Lord gives a simple promise - that if you seek Him, you will find Him if you seek with all your heart. Read Jer 29:11-14 for the full context of this verse). In Heb 11:5-6, the Lord reminds us that He is indeed a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Dear friends, are you seeking him earnestly ? Is your cry for Him causing the creator to stop in His steps and take note of your prayers ? Let's decide to be intentional in seeking our Lord.

2) RETURN TO HIM - to again enjoy His compassion & Blessing

How often have we departed from the narrow way and how often , like sheep , we go astray. Yet the Lord looks for us as the Father in the story of the prodigal son, who saw the son from afar and ran to him to embrace him. In Joel 2:12-14 , we read of the nation which went far from the Lord. Yet the lord promises to shower his blessing on such a people if they return to Him with all their heart. Isaiah 30:15 says: In returning and rest shall ye be saved !

A repentant & faithful heart always has the attention of our lord Jesus. So let's repent of our backslidings & turn once again to Him.

3) LOVE HIM - and enjoy the sweetest relation with Him

Christianity is a way of life that endorses Love & Relation with the Lord God more than works and sweat for Him. It's possible to work for the lord without love - but the Lord will consider that to be dead works. In Mark 12:28-30, the Lord says that the first and greatest commandment for the disciple is to Love the Lord with all our heart. In Rev 2:2-4 , we read about an active and excellent church. But the Lord reprimands the church at Ephesus for being a church that has lost the first love for the lord and He warns them to "repent" and come back to the original state of being a church full of the initial passion & love for them lord. Friend, have you strayed from that blessed state ? 

4) PRAISE HIM - and receive His presence & victory

Ps. 9:1 says that His wonderful works are revealed to those who praise Him with all their hearts. In  Matt 21:16, the Lord says: out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, He has perfected praise. In the parallel old testament reference, the Lord says: Praise is strength ordained. Judah means praise - (Gen 29:35) and because he praises, He shall receive the victory against all His enemies. (Gen 49:8). When King Jehoshaphat of Judah was surrounded by enemies, He appointed a praise session and the Lord supernaturally defeated his enemies. Friends, how often have we seen the enemy melt away when we start praising the Lord in spirit.

5) TRUST HIM -  To receive the guidance in our steps

Trusting the Lord with all your heart is the ultimate test of your consecration & love for the lord. With that comes the risk of being mocked, receiving the ridicule of men & the risk of massive failures. But Prov. 3:5-6 reminds us that if you trust him with all your heart, the Lord shall direct our steps. How often do we come to the valley of decision, and how graciously our savior directs our steps because we trusted in Him and didn't lean on worldly wisdom or our own desires. The bible is full of godly men who have been at this place and who received victory because they held onto the will of God. This, dear friends, is the faith & wholeheartedness that He desires in us.

6) SERVE HIM - and receive the favor of the Lord

Rom 12:11 says: Don't be slothful in business - whatever you are doing, even in the secular field, do it as though you are doing it for the Lord. Be fervent in your spirit and in your desires for the Lord. And serve the Lord. Every christian is called to serve and minister to the lord with all his heart. The work of the kingdom has been given to us and he desires that we'll perform it with a ready heart and right spirit.

May the Lord grant us the simple wholeheartedness In Christ always! God bless!