Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)
If we profess faith in the Lord Jesus, is He also our all in all? Many times we claim faith in Him yet our lives do not demonstrate that we even know Him. Scripture tells us in 1 John 2:6 (NIV): “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” Our actions are to display our trust in Him, through His indwelling power of the Holy Spirit Who resides in every true believer. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:9B (NIV): “And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Sadly, we can often be quite good at “shrinking” the Spirit within us by rarely dwelling upon Him or the Word of God and choosing rather to go our own ways – much to our own harm. Scripture tells us to walk in the Spirit and to keep in step with the Spirit - both for our own good and God’s glory. Paul also tells us in Philippians 2:13 (NIV): “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
Believers are not to blend with the world rather “stand out like stars in the universe as we hold out the Word of Life” through both our words and our actions. Many know Him as Savior – fewer as Lord, Amen? Sadly, the world captures our attention as it is so near and tangible. It is uber easy to be distracted from following Jesus, Amen? Jesus tells us the following Truth in the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:19 (NIV) which has been so true in every age: “but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” We often allow most anything to come before Him – even something as small as a ding on our devices. Experience should teach us to cry out as Solomon “Vanity”. Things are given to us from the Lord’s Hand to enjoy - not to live for. Christ is the jewel – all else is less – nice but not necessary.
Pray to love Him more. A divided love is a weak love. He is to be our all – without rival for our affections. This can be difficult with all the distractions but it is our great duty as believers. Our responsibility is to give ourselves to the Lord Jesus – dedicating and devoting our lives to His service in whatever sphere of influence He has placed us. Being His Hands, His feet and His mouth. Bringing Him into all our life circumstances and leaving the aroma of Christ behind rather than the stench of death.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.** Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)**