Wholehearted

When we think whole-hearted commitment we think of someone who is all in. There is no pulling back. Someone who is half-hearted is not really committed at all. How does this apply to Christianity? Can you have a halfhearted Christian? The very idea makes Jesus sick (Revelation 3:16). The Israelites found out that there is a price to pay for half-heartedness (Numbers 32:11). It really comes down to faith (Isaiah 7:9). Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus indicated that it would take wholehearted devotion to be His disciple (Mark 8:35; Luke 9:23) The Apostle Paul was willing to lay down his life for Jesus (Acts 21:10-14). Likewise, we are called to live sacrificial lives (Romans 12:1-2).  The catalog of heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 is a veritable who’s who of people who lived out their faith in wholehearted commitment. Like them, we are challenged to look to the one who is the author of our faith and follow the path of perseverance (Hebrews 12:1-3). By contrast, halfhearted people are not worthy to follow Christ (Matthew 10:38; Luke 9:62; cf. Zephaniah 1:6). It is the commitment that pushes through to the end that gives us a share in Christ (Hebrews 3:14). In fact, the ones who starts well and then falls back is worse off than when they started (2 Peter 2:20).

People do not start out in the Christian life with the goal of being halfhearted.  If they were apathetic to begin with they would not even bother to start. So what makes people go from new life and spiritual enthusiasm to complacency and decline? One thing that leads to complacency is a shallow view of God’s Word. We begin to look at the Word of God as a literary work much like poetry, and we attend a prophetic utterance much like a literary critic. We admire the beauty of the form, but miss the sense of power that should come with its delivery (Ezekiel 33:31-32). Materialism can also dampen our ardor for God (Hosea 13:6; Mark 4:19). Eternal values give way to temporal desire and we end up giving our soul away for a little bit of nothing (Mark 8:35-37; Luke 21:34; Hebrews 12:16-17). Because our hearts are so easily captivated by other things we must take care to guard them (Proverbs 4:23; 1 Timothy 6:10). Me must put all other loves out of the running and love Jesus alone. Otherwise, it is curtains for us. We can not serve two masters (Luke 16:13). Perhaps that is why Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God with our whole heart (Matt. 22:37). It is wholehearted devotion God wants. There really is no such thing as a halfhearted Christian. That would be a contradiction in terms.

Hear and obey

God uses the most unlikely people. A barren couple are given the promise of many descendants and are told a nation shall rise from them and through them, all nations will be blessed. A slave is lifted from the dungeons to instruct the ruler of Egypt. Where God has a respected priest he uses a boy to lead people back to worship. Where he has a soldier, he uses a shepherd to defeat a giant warrior. He uses a girl to deliver a nation. He uses a cupbearer to raise the city of God from ashes and rubble. A  young virgin is tasked with carrying the Son of God and Savior of mankind in her womb. An enthusiastic persecutor of Christianity is made to be its greatest advocate. A monk stands against the whole church to lead people back to truth and the way of faith. A failed missionary sets off national revival. Why does God use such people?

In the instances above, God was able to speak to the person he used. It’s not that he didn’t speak to anyone else, but these people were listening. They were not only hearing, but they were hearing with an inclination to cooperate with what God had to say. God spoke to Abraham(Genesis 12:1), and Abraham believed God. He moved forward at the Word of the Lord and God counted him righteous (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, 18; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23) and used his righteous life to advance the Kingdom. God gave Joseph a dream and Joseph trusted God to see him through. God used Joseph’s hear and obey attitude for his purposes and to bless Israel (Genesis 50:20). Samuel stands in contrast to Eli and his two wicked sons as the one God would use to lead the nation of Israel (1 Samuel 3:11-14, 19-21). God took the listening obedient heart of the Shepherd boy David, and made him King, because king Saul could no longer hear the voice of God (1 Samuel 28:15). Esther became queen and heard the call of God through her uncle Mordecai, put her life on the line, and was used of God to frustrate the plans of the enemy(Esther 4:14, 16). Nehemiah’s heart was broken over the city where God had put his name (Nehemiah 2:1-2), and God used Him to bring restoration and hope (Nehemiah 13:14). Mary was chosen to bear the Christ child, and her response was total surrender to the will of God (Luke 1:38). A hostile Pharisee, Saul became a friend of the church, transformed through revelation and submission (Acts 9:1-22). Martin Luther led the protestant reformation with the ninety-five thesis (outlining inconsistencies in the church) nailed to Wittenberg Castle door because God spoke to him through the Scriptures and he felt he had to stand on what God had said rather than allow clergy to subvert the Word of God. John Wesley led the Great Awakening in England and the Americas through the experiential knowledge of a surrendered and purified heart.

God is still using people. It may not be the ones you would expect. It may be a farm boy who hears the call of God to “Preach the Gospel” (remember Billy Graham). It may be a shoe store clerk (Dwight Moody) called to be an evangelist, or the son of a traveling preacher God calls to be a missionary (Jim Elliot). God can speak to a young man from a wealthy respectable family and use his obedience to stand up against tyranny and oppression (Dietrich Bonheoffer). God uses people who hear and obey. The ones most willing to listen to God are the one’s God is most likely to use. Speak Lord, for your servant hears.

A Big Deal

Cold and lonely nights on the street. Another abusive confrontation. Bare cupboards and hungry children. From the outside, these situations may look bleak, depressing, and painful. People in the middle of these situations, however, can become numb and desensitized to their plight. To the homeless, it is just another night on the street. To the hungry, missed meals become regular fare. Abusive relationships become the norm. What may be shocking and obvious to others may be no big deal to the one in the middle of it. It becomes normal existence. The status quo, even though tragic, can easily become familiar. The abnormal seems normal.
In the same way sin can become normal to us. We can become used to it. Others may be shocked at the obvious wrong and see the sin and shame, but to the one in the midst of it, it may seem like no big deal. It becomes part of normal existence. No big deal? Sin is a big deal. A REAL BIG deal.
Those who become numb to it accept it as a familiar friend, but they do not realize the tragedy of their situation. The Bible says that sin is a killer (Romans 6:23). The death that comes from sin is not immediately apparent. We are told that sin kills but when we sin we do not suddenly drop dead. We live to sin another day. We begin to think that perhaps sin is not so bad. Day after day, sin upon sin, we become numb. Sin becomes the new normal. Its no big deal (1 Kings 16:31). But the truth is, we are dead (Romans 5:12).
Not until we realize our condition are we able to begin to address it. That is why God wants to wake us up to our condition (Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:14). God’s word diagnoses us. It forces us to see ourselves as we really are (James 1:22-25). The Holy Spirit brings guilt to shake us out of our stupor (2 Corinthians 7:10-13; Hebrews 3:7-8). To make us uncomfortable with sin. We need to hear the alarms go off. WARNING! SIN IS A KILLER! It is killing you already. hey! You!, HEY YOU! YOU ARE DEAD!!!!
We have to know how bad it is before we wake up enough to ask “what must I do to be saved (cf. Acts 2:37, 16:30)?” Then, and only then are we ready to hear the good news. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).” We are not ready to hear the good news until we wake up to the reality of the bad news. When we wake up to how big a deal sin is (death is a big deal), we can finally see how big a deal Jesus is (sin washer, life giver). We were dead men walking and didn't even know it. Sin zombies (Ephesians 2:1-2). But God poured out His grace and mercy in Jesus Christ and made us alive (Ephesians 2:4-5). If you are still one of the zombies, it means nothing. It is no big deal. But, if you are one of those who have been made alive you understand what all the fuss is about. Yes, sin is a big deal. But, Jesus is a bigger deal. The biggest deal ever.

Attitude

Attitude can make all the difference in the world. I understand what a person means not just because of the words they say, but also the way they say it. A stance, or a look can be the difference between night and day in what is being communicated. Words spoken cross and sharp insert attitude in the communication. Words spoken softly and with kindness communicate a feeling, not just information. We seldom speak with just words. Most of our communication is invested with attitude. Dramatic moments in a movie or play take attitude. Tender moments whether spoken in movie dialogue or real life situations elicit tears because they arouse our feelings. The attitude is communicated and we respond in kind.

One of the dangers of attitude is precisely the ability to project your attitude onto another person. Anger directed towards another often arouses anger. Animated people quite often get others excited too. Frustration can be felt and fear in another can cause us alarm. Attitude can be infectious (Deuteronomy 20:8; 1 Corinthians 16:8).  If someone who is cheerful can cheer me up, and if my gloom can make someone else gloomy, then attitude is important.

I must admit, there are times when I let someone else’s attitude affect me in a negative way. By the same token, my attitude has not always been encouraging. Since my attitude can affect others, I want to be positive and upbeat, and at the same time must guard against a negative attitude dragging my own heart down (Luke 6:45). I have been around people who seem to always project negativity. There are those who sour my stomach because I know them to be bitter and angry people. I do not want to be around them and I actually try to dodge them at times.

What if I were so upbeat and positive that instead of letting them bring me down, I brought them up? What if I were to face the onslaught of negativity with a cheerful disposition (Proverbs 15:30)? My aim should be not to tear down, but to build up and encourage. The bible tells my that through the Holy Spirit, I am able to do that (Acts 20:32). Lord, may I not be discouraged by the attitude of others, but may I be a source of encouragement instead.