It's ultimately a matter of heart. No, not heart-healthy food, or exercise (good as these are). It's about heart in the sense of passion. Consider this passionate prayer of Solomon, the wisest man to ever live:
"Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else." (1 Kings 8.56-60)
Several things are worth noting about genuine passion for the true and living God. First of all, genuine passion recognizes His faithfulness and unfailing promises. As Solomon prayed, "not one word has failed of all His good promise".
Secondly, genuine passion recognizes our utter dependence upon Him for passion for Him: "may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances". True love and devotion to our Father cannot be humanly produced; it requires His presence and work. If we are to walk in His ways and obey His commands, it requires His Spirit.
True passion is concerned, not for ourself and our reputation, but for Him: "that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else." Nothing matters more than that Yahweh God be known by every person on earth, and that every person know of His kingdom plan through His Son, Jesus.
A heart examination is in order today, and it involves key questions that arise from Solomon's great prayer. Do I recognize God's unfailing faithfulness and promises? In order to do so, I need to look at His past work in my life, from the record of the Bible, and the promises abundantly listed there. Secondly, do I recognize my utter dependence on Him to have a heart from Him and obedience to Him? Thirdly, is my true passion for all people to know Him?
A "heart check" in these areas will be valuable in cultivating the passion that our Father so eagerly desires - and deserves - from us.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
"Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else." (1 Kings 8.56-60)
Several things are worth noting about genuine passion for the true and living God. First of all, genuine passion recognizes His faithfulness and unfailing promises. As Solomon prayed, "not one word has failed of all His good promise".
Secondly, genuine passion recognizes our utter dependence upon Him for passion for Him: "may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances". True love and devotion to our Father cannot be humanly produced; it requires His presence and work. If we are to walk in His ways and obey His commands, it requires His Spirit.
True passion is concerned, not for ourself and our reputation, but for Him: "that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else." Nothing matters more than that Yahweh God be known by every person on earth, and that every person know of His kingdom plan through His Son, Jesus.
A heart examination is in order today, and it involves key questions that arise from Solomon's great prayer. Do I recognize God's unfailing faithfulness and promises? In order to do so, I need to look at His past work in my life, from the record of the Bible, and the promises abundantly listed there. Secondly, do I recognize my utter dependence on Him to have a heart from Him and obedience to Him? Thirdly, is my true passion for all people to know Him?
A "heart check" in these areas will be valuable in cultivating the passion that our Father so eagerly desires - and deserves - from us.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 7:34 AM
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