Thursday, December 29, 2022
Wholehearted
“So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’” (Joshua 14:9 NLT)
One of the reasons this world still appeals to many of us is that we lack closeness to God.
When we’re only giving God our bare minimum and our love for Jesus isn’t burning brightly, the ways of the world and the temporary pleasures the world offers will look more and more appealing to us. But if we can get our priorities right, we can see our world for what it is. That was what Caleb did. The Bible says that he “wholeheartedly followed the Lord” (Joshua 14:9 NLT).
Wholeheartedly following the Lord meant that Caleb didn’t compromise. He stood his ground, wanting the approval of God more than the approval of others. Wholeheartedly following the Lord meant that Caleb took God at His Word and stood on it. And wholeheartedly following the Lord meant that Caleb desired fellowship and communion with God, which gave him the strength to continue.
In contrast, it was a lack of fellowship with and closeness to God that caused the children of Israel to turn to idolatry, immorality, complaining, and testing God in the wilderness.
When you’re in love with Jesus Christ, you will see Him for who He is, and you will see this world for what it is. As the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full at His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
When you maintain a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, this world will lose its appeal to you.
Caleb wholeheartedly followed the Lord and wanted fellowship, intimacy, and closeness with Him. This sustained him through difficult times. It will also sustain us through difficult times.
May we not be casualties in the spiritual battle. May we be strong as believers living in these last days.
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