In Jeremiah 24:7 it says, “And I’ll give them a heart to know me, GOD. They’ll be my people and I’ll be their God, for they’ll have returned to me with all their hearts” (The Message).

In the context, the Jews were going to be taken captive, but God promised to restore them to the land and that one day they would long to know God and embrace him with their whole heart. This reminds me of something Jesus said when he responded to one of the pharisees trying to trick him about the greatest commandment. Jesus said the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37).

Both of these passages are describing what the number one allegiance of my heart should be. As a disciple of Jesus, no one is to be my primary allegiance other than God.

This truth ties in to Mark 10 where the rich man came to Jesus, but left disheartened because he could not give up his wealth to follow him. Jesus exposed the heart of the rich man so that it was clear that he had a competing allegiance that made following Jesus the way he desired impossible. In fact, Jesus comments on that truth later in the passage by saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Mk 10:25). Why? Because it is very hard for those who have much to keep God the center of their lives. Competing interests can easily lead us astray.

Father, I am very blessed with your provision, protection and comfort. In fact, no generation has had it easier than I do. With this prosperity it is also so easy to be distracted from a whole heart commitment to you. Is their something distracting me from wholeheartedly following you? If so, please show me what it is.

May you, by your gracious enabling help me to follow you with a whole heart. You are my God and I desire you to be the number one priority of my life.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff