Wholeheartedness

 

Read:  Numbers 32 and Mark 10:13-31

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  “… not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly’ … Then Moses said to them, “… arm yourselves before the Lord for battle … every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the Lord …”  Numbers 32:12, 20, 27

 

“ … crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.  The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”  Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”  Mark 10:1b, 26-28

O:  In these two passages we see the idea of wholeheartedness – wholeheartedly following the Lord.  We must be wholehearted in battle to “clear the land of your enemy(s)”, wholehearted in following after Jesus, and wholehearted in teaching and bringing others the good news of salvation.

 

Just as Jesus called the rich man to leave the thing(s) that mattered most to him, Jesus calls us today to leave those things which hinder us from reaching His kingdom and “hundred times” as great of things in this present age (verse 30).  No matter what we “give up” for Jesus, He ALWAYS has something better (see verses 29-31).  He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20).  It doesn’t mean there won’t be a battle (Numbers 32).  It doesn’t mean there won’t be persecution (verse 30).  But it does mean IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

 

A:  If there is anything you are holding back from Jesus today I pray that you will become wholehearted.  Leave IT ALL!  If you never put down those things you are clinging so tightly to, then how can your hands be open to receive what He wants you to have? 

 

P:  Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name!  You are a good, good Father!  That is Who You are!  When I think of the people entering the land and how You fought for them and with them to give them the Promised Land, Lord, I think of how sometimes there are things we have to fight for here too.  But for most of us today this isn’t a battle won with physical swords, but these are spiritual battles we face – battles won by getting down on our knees in prayer and as we read and studied yesterday even fasting and prayer.  These are battles won by staying in the Word of God – this becomes our sword that we use to bring our thoughts captive to You so that we can win against those things that hold our minds captive from wholeheartedly serving You.  Father You have so many good plans for us!  Help us to be overcomers so we can be wholeheartedly Yours and so that we can bring others into Your glorious kingdom.  In Jesus’ Mighty, Precious and Saving Name I pray – Yeshua HaMashiach.  Amen & Amen.

If HE wholeheartedly gave everything for us, why wouldn't we wholeheartedly live for Him?