If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1

If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. v6

Malachi is the last of Minor Prophets and his message from God is a word of warning for those who have ambivalent towards God, unbelieving that God will be what He says He is and do what He says He will do.

God wants all of our heart and 100% of our lives and devotion - He does not want us to hold back.

In response to questioning from the Jewish leaders regarding what the most important commandment is, Jesus responds love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind.

There is danger to holding back - including being held accountable for our actions on Judgement Day.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gave everything for me - that I could have life and have it with abundance - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I get angry too quickly.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Please help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.

Daniel 3

Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way. v29

This chapter is, of course, one which most believers are familiar with; yet on closer inspection certain details are worth greater review and consideration.  Verse 29 is one of these verses I believe.   In the 1st two chapters of Daniel we see Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being a light for others, and in chapter 3 we see this as well.  However, while Nebuchadnezzar is drawn to God, it appears that he is not FULLY drawn to God to the extent that He recognize that God is God over all.  He decrees that people should not SAY anything against God but does not issue a decree about DOING anything to anger God - such as creating an image before or above God (which Nebuchadnezzar does in verse 1).  There is no mention that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the idol he created.

God wants ALL of our heart, attention and love - not part of it.  See also posts with the following tags

100% devotion to Jesus, all of your heart, and mind, consequence of partial devotion, partial devotion.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is worthy of 100% of our devotion, love and attention.  You bless me beyond what I deserve - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 3

In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense, declares the Lord. v10

God wants all of our heart - not some of it.  In particular, see this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God worthy of my FULL devotion, energy, and love.  Yet I often full short - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

2 Kings 10

The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit. v30-31

Jehu was partially committed to the Lord.  Yet God wants all of our heart.  Jesus calls this the Greatest Commandment.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37

This command is also found five other times in Deuteronomy and once in Joshua.

We should be careful to avoid creating a wedge between us and God because this wedge will widen over time - see also this post as well as this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You reign - You created all things, are in all things and hold all things together.  You provide for all of my needs, especially my daily manna.  I am nothing without You.  Thank You Jesus for all that You do and for all that You are.  I am not worthy of a God who would willingly send His Son to die for me.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for my selfishness.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

1 Kings 3

Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. v3

David intended Solomon to follow his charge completely - not partially. 

Similarly, when we fail to submit to God with all of our lives, we harbor and invite Satan into those parts of our lives where we deny God.  This of course is sinful in and of itself as we are commanded to love God with ALL of our heart, soul and mind (Exodus 20, Matthew 22:34-38).

As well, this opening creates a separation that is likely to widen over time.

Hebrews 10

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15

 

Jesus, please help me submit ALL of my heart, soul, and mind to You.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land.

Judges 1

But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. v27

God desires the Israelites to take all the land given to them and to drive out those inhabiting the land - yet Israel's obedience is partial.  God wants 100% obedience - yet since the Fall this is impossible so God sent Christ for us.  Although Christ knows we cannot be 100% obedient He does desire us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind (see Matthew 22:37-40)....not some of our heart, soul, and mind but ALL.

There are consequences in this world (Ananias and Sepphira, The Rich and Kingdom of God) and in Heaven for those who are partial in their devotion to Jesus.

Jesus, help me devote ALL of my life to You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gave everything to me (Your life!) so that I could be spared the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.