Full Measure of Our Heart
5-5-04

In the message "He Will Be Found" we saw that God promises to be found by those who will seek Him. But the qualifier is, He will be found by those who seek Him with ALL their heart; "you will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

The consistent message through all of God's Word is that He is calling us back to a restored relationship with Himself - a relationship which is only possible through faith in Jesus. We enter in by His loving grace; but His expectation for this relationship is that, through faith, we give Him ALL of our heart.

If we desire this restored relationship with God - if we desire to truly "find" Him - then our heart must be fully devoted to Him; there can be no rivals or competing affections which pull us away. When Jesus was asked to name the most important commandment, He replied; "Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). All means all - no cheating or deceiving!

Our Heavenly Father deserves that we give Him our love honestly and completely; "You must have accurate and honest weights and measures. For the Lord detests anyone who deals dishonestly" (Deuteronomy 25:15-16). It's foolish to think we can cheat God and withhold even a small portion of our heart, for in doing so we ultimately cheat ourselves.

Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

God has promised to bless those who come to Him with a true and uncompromising faith in Jesus. His blessing includes the right to be called children of God and the inheritance of eternal life, but it also extends to our days on earth as we receive the blessings of true joy, peace, and contentment.

It should not be surprising that the measure of blessing we receive from God is directly related to the measure we use to give back to Him. We can never "purchase" our blessings with financial gifts or good deeds. Rather, our true blessings flow from God's hand as we give Him our worship and obedience; as we desire to walk in His presence and praise Him with every breath.

Our dealings with God become dishonest and deceitful when we expect a full measure of His blessing of peace, His blessing of clear direction, or even His blessing of assurance and freedom from doubt, and yet cheat Him with every measure we return. Let's be restored and truly receive the full measure of His blessing. Let's enter into His presence and, each and every day, give Him the full measure of our heart.

Have A Great Day!