Clean & Wholehearted
“Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’”
Joshua 14:6-9
There are two sides to every coin. Heads or tails. Caleb makes a claim for the inheritance that he was promised. He does not make the claim based on what he was able to do, but how he did it. He said I have followed the Lord wholeheartedly. The way in which he followed God was marked by full devotion, complete attention, and faithfulness. Is that how we evaluate ourselves? We live in a culture that measures everything by results over effort. In the kingdom, it is the state of our heart, the humility and faithfulness that matters most. Scriptures consistently says that God cares about your heart. How does changing our focus from outcomes to openness and devotion change how we approach life?
It is good to consider the other side of the coin. What is the opposite of the life that is wholehearted? A heart that is divided. Consider the world in which we live. We often celebrate people who can multi-task, do many things at once, and live in a way where we are divided. Does this not have an impact on our heart? Are we not divided when we are constantly being inundated with information, temptation, and distraction? Consider the state of your heart and how you could unify what has been divided, where you could bring together what has been separated, and what you could do to have wholehearted attention to God.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Psalms 51:1-4, 10-12, 16-17
What would happen if we began every day by praying Psalm 51? How does this psalm align with the beginning of the sermon on the mount and what we just read in Joshua about how Caleb lived? Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit and Caleb demonstrated a life of humility where getting his way was never elevated above God's will. David views everything he does in light of how it aligns with what God calls him to do. What does David know? He falls short. He is a sinner in need of a savior. He has not obeyed perfectly or lived without sin. Confession leaves to freedom so David regularly practices telling the truth to the God who already knows all truth. His thinking and his heart come into alignment with God's. David knows that God desires devotion and wants to help him get away from the sin that seeks to divide David's heart. How aligned is your thinking and heart with Jesus?
David lays out a beautiful request. Not only does he ask for a clean heart and to renew a steadfast spirit, but he asks God to give him joy and a willing spirit. David knows in his own strength that he falls short. Rather than beating himself up, he turns to the joy of the Lord and moves in His strength. Where have you been relying on your own strength and need to give your burdens to God? How could taking time to remember the joy of your salvation help spur you onto to living faithfully for the Lord?
“His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.” Song of Songs 5:16
David practiced confession and repentance. He took the steps to purify his heart and remove anything that was not pleasing to God. He emptied himself so that he could be filled with the best that God had for him. We are all meant to practice emptying ourselves each day of the impurities we pick up from living in an impure world. Make no mistake, we live in a world that affects us. Every time we turn on the news, listen to gossip, or divide our hearts, we allow things not from God to enter our hearts.
We need to empty the tank of impurity because God can only fill us to the extent that we make available for filling. What will you be filled with when you take the time to let go of all that you have picked up? You will hear the words of love, sweetness, grace, and truth. You will be filled with the presence of the Lord and make room for the Holy Spirit to empower you for all that God has prepared for you. Just like the bride in Song of Songs, we are the bride of Christ. He wants to speak life, hope, peace, joy, and truth into our lives that we might become reflections of Him to others. Have you emptied yourself today through listening prayer, confession, and repentance? Do you want more of what God wants to give you?
“He said: “The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not relent. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth, Her king will go into exile, he and his officials together,” says the Lord.”
Amos 1:2-3, 15
There is another road we can travel. It is the road that is broad and wide and well traveled by mankind. It is the road that leads to destruction, isolation, and despair. God loves us too much to bless our disobedience or allow us to avoid the consequence of our choices. Amos shares clear feedback about each of the tribes of Israel and how they have been unfaithful to the covenant relationship they have with God.
God speaks through Amos and says that there is unconfessed and unrepentant sin that is still in you. God allows us to choose what we hold on to and how we live. If we want to live in sin, He allows it. He does not heal it until we confess and repent of it. Just like a parent who continually instructs their child to turn away from the things that harm them, God is telling us the truth about where sin where lead. Do you have any unconfessed sin? Any areas you are not yet feeling freedom or received healing because of how you have held on to sin? Why? The bible says many times the truth that if you confess your sin, God is faithful and just to forgive it.
“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us...to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach."
Titus 2:2, 7-8, 10-15
In Joshua, we read about how Caleb trusted the Lord with his life. He lived wholeheartedly. Paul lays out a clear example of what a life that is wholly devoted to God looks like. He says that the life devoted to God is an example to others. We saw this in how Jesus lived. He was the perfect model of a life devoted to the Father. Should not ours be as well?
Paul says show integrity in your teaching and soundness in your speech. Solomon said remember the words of love. Paul says make our Savior attractive. Are the words you are saying making others want to draw closer to God? The church has had a history of being known as judgemental and self-righteous. A life wholeheartedly devoted to God should reflect the love of God in speech and service.
Paul says choose wisely which way you will live. Will your life be divided by ungodliness and worldly passions or devoted and disciplined? Choose devotion to the Lord and you will see the divine blessings that come from a God who is always faithful, always loves perfectly, and always looking to give you the full inheritance that is yours as a child of God.