Recently I had a conversation with a friend regarding the above phrase. He had read the phrase in Deuteronomy concerning Caleb. I was happy to join in as Caleb is one of my very best friends. His life is filled with so many things that encourage me.
As we spoke we realized how different being whole hearted is from being perfected. We often reflect on Jesus being the “pattern son”, the example, the elder brother, the standard. And as we do we become overwhelmed at how far we are from HIS achievement. But when you think about the meaning of whole hearted some of that pressure lifts. To be whole hearted means to pursue something with no other goal in mind. There are many examples in the Word. Everyone’s favorite I believe would be David. He pursued God with his whole heart. There was not room in his heart for any other sovereign.
While striving for perfection in our life tends to major on the things we do, being whole hearted does not. Whole heartedness relies on relationship. If I daily (at times moment by moment) center my love and my thoughts on HIM there will be little time for things that compete for attention. If I am whole hearted each response from me will be dictated by a heart that only has eyes for HIM. If I make attaining HIM the goal of my existence I will not have time or energy to pursue things that crowd HIM in my thoughts. In Phil. Paul speaks of attaining the goal and of winning the prize. I believe my goal should be to be whole heartedly committed to Jesus and as a result I will win the prize of Jesus HIMSELF.
What things clamor for attention in your heart? Are they speaking so loudly that you have to move Jesus to a smaller place in your heart? Or when heaven looks at your heart do they see a person who only pursues the KING and HIS Kingdom?
To be whole hearted does not require that I do everything perfectly every time. It only requires that everything I do comes from having HIM at the center of it.
Hope to see you in a Tea Room soon,
Elizabeth