Archived Verse Of the Week

Matters of the Heart

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In the final rounds of athletic competition, athletes who are neck-and-neck exhibit who wants it the most or, more specifically, the most hungry! The competitive edge often comes down to a question of the heart, where desire and determination live, where dedication and courage reside when there is nothing to choose between the athletes' physical ability, their conditioning, and skills in a competition.

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If the heart makes a difference in sports competitions, it makes an even greater impact on spiritual experiences. Let us consider the case of Caleb, a man who "wholeheartedly followed the Lord [his] God." He was recognized and admired for his dedication even though he was eighty-five years old. 

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Caleb was born in Egypt to parents who were in servitude. At a point in his life, he decided to be a follower of the Lord. After reflecting on his religious conviction, Caleb also realized numerous examples of only half-hearted followers surrounding him. Caleb concluded that nothing less than a total commitment of his heart, soul and life to the Lord would be acceptable to him in the end.

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Caleb's dedication was of the type that required him to remain dedicated in both good and bad times. It helped him get through both the short- and long-term challenges. He prevailed in his convictions when others shied away from him out of fear. Obstacles that might have deterred others served as motivation for him. God's promises were to be fully claimed. He did not beg for assistance in driving out his adversaries; rather, he simply requested the opportunity to do so, confident that "the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (14:12). When problems arose, he was not at the rear but in the front, saying his piece and guiding his soldiers through the melee (see Num. 14:5-9, 24).

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There are at least three types of men: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder, "How did this happen?" It's simple to figure out which group Caleb belonged to.

Is it possible for a person who is by nature half-hearted to become a wholehearted follower of the Lord? If that's the case, what does it entail? Why should we obey God? Because if He is who He says He is and can be relied upon to carry out his promises, then He is deserving of our loving and trusting obedience. That is the raw material from which complete devotion is fashioned.