“singleness of heart”

I have been burdened with the thought of the business of many lives including my own during this time of year. It seems like if we are not careful we loose focus of the things that really matter in life. God has brought some verses to my mind and I thought they would be helpful for us as we approach a new year. The Lord has been dealing with me and how my life ought to be heading as we approach 2016. I encourage us to not be overly consumed with the affairs of this life but as good soldiers of the captain of our salvation to be focused on what our Lord wants out of us.

(Act 2:46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Act 2:47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

I cant help but notice how the disciples and believers in the early church had a heart that was not divided but single in praising and serving God and keeping him at the focus and forefront of their lives. They did not allow themselves to be distracted with the things and allurements of the world, but was focused in bringing lives to Jesus and the furtherance of the church that Jesus established that the gates of Hell could not defeat and still cant even in this wicked day and age we find ourselves in at the present hour. The Church had amazing success and growth BECAUSE THEY WERE SINGLE AND NOT DIVIDED in their daily pursuit of God and his church.

I also love the words of Jesus in regards to us being single and focused in our lives in regards to serving God.

(Mat 6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

(Mat 6:22) The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye BE SINGLE, thy whole body shall be full of light.

(Mat 6:23) But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

(Mat 6:24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

As the psalmist sang in (Psa 86:11)

“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: UNITE MY HEART to fear thy name.”

God wants first and only place in our life, not a divided heart but a united heart in serving him and the church that Jesus purchased with his own blood when he died on Mount Calvary.

I am praying that God will keep my heart united. Israel in the o.t. had many times that they were divided in their heart and was not serving God 100%

(Hos 10:2) Their heart IS DIVIDED; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

Oh how I pray that my heart will be single in service to God and his son! The baby boy born in a manager over 2,000 years to a virgin and died for my filthy sins and has forgiven me for all the bad I have done in my life is worthy of my whole heart and soul and life!

Elijah encouraged the people of Israel to be single to God and not be divided in their heart in serving him.

(1Ki 18:21) And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

If you are divided in your love and obedience to the Lord I encourage you to repent and draw closer to God and be single in your life and focused on serving him and base all of your decisions and priorities in life around him and his church.

(Rev 3:15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

(Rev 3:16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Are you HOT AND ON FIRE today for the Lord and focused on serving him in whatever capacity he asks of you, or are you lukewarm or cold on God in your life?

I hope that all who read this will be determined on being SINGLE and FOCUSED in serving God as 2016 approaches and not have a divided heart. Oh how the Christian needs to be single and consumed in serving God. I believe if we will be single and not divided in our love and service for the Lord then God will use us more for the furtherance of his church and in the saving of souls for his kingdom!