WHOLEHEARTEDLY

Wholeheartedness is to be sold out, completely surrendered or without any reservation in something or someone. The answer to the question - why - is usually the basis for anyone's devotion. My wholeheartedness comes from Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He died for me, so I will live for Him.

Reading in the Old Testament I discovered that to live wholeheartedly for the Lord meant - a great inheritance (Numbers 14:24), rest (2 Chronicles 15:15), prosperity (2 Chronicles 31:21), and escape from shame (Psalm 119:80).

Caleb was rewarded as an individual and his descendants benefited from his commitment to the Lord also.

• "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." - Numbers 14:24

As a nation, Judah was blessed with peace or "rest on every side" of the country.

• "All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side." - 2 Chron. 15:15

Hezekiah was a hard worker. He was someone who obeyed the Lord's commands. But he was also a man who "sought his God wholeheartedly" and for that he prospered.

• "In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered." - 2 Chron. 31:21

David knew that to give less than 100% to God in view of family, friends and the public meant possible compromise and eventual shame.

• "May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame." - Psalm 119:80

I can hear my Mom's voice in my mind now saying, "If you are going to do a job, do it right the first time or at least give it your best effort trying." The rest of that mentality is - if the job is not done right the first time, return visits are required until the project is accomplished or frustration gains the upper hand. This is the Mindset of Wholeheartedness - giving your all from the beginning, all the way through to the end of a project or relationship.

The Holy Spirit said through Paul to the believers in Ephesus, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people," - Eph. 6:7. Said another way - Go ahead and be Servant Leaders, but when you serve others, minister to them as if you were ministering to the Lord - with every ounce of your strength, time, talents and resources.

The phrase "not people" implies we serve without this mindset of "as serving unto the Lord". Instead, we come from a human and potentially lacking effort. However, when we pray and include God's Vision toward everyone, believers can be wholehearted in their intentions. Therefore, let us strive, brothers and sisters in Christ, to live for God and with God's love for each other - Wholeheartedly.