Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Is Whole Hearted Devotion to God Reasonably Attainable?

Was it reasonble for God to expect the Israelites to follow after Him and obey His commandments with their whole heart? What makes it possible for humankind to follow after God and obey His commands in their sinful state? It is common for mankind to feel helpless in their sinful state. As humans we are created in God's image (Gen. 1:27). The decision of the first humans, Adam and Eve, to disobey the Lord created a barrier between all mankind and the Lord because of the sinful nature of mankind (Gen. 3). The Lord desires to have intimate fellowship with mankind and in the Old Testament continues to make a covenant with Israel so they might be in fellowship with Him (Gen. 17; 22:16-19; 26:24; 28:13-15). The Lord states within His covenant, "I am with you" (Gen. 26:27). This Covenant and the Mosaic Law both point toward the atonement by Christ Jesus enabling us to come into an abiding relationship with God (Matt. 27:50-51; John 3:14-15; Col. 3:2-4).

The Lord enables His children the Israelites to obey Him (Deut. 30:14-15). It is written in the Old Testament that the Lord circumcised the Israelites' hearts to love Him (Deut. 30:6). He goes on to state, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it" (Deut. 30:14). The Old Testament contains individuals who followed Him with their whole heart including Joshua and David (Joshua 14:8). Serving the Lord wholeheartedly does not mean a person will not sin as there were times David and Joshua sinned. In 1 Chronicles 28:9, Solomon is implored to serve the Lord with his whole heart as God searches the hearts and the minds of people.

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