“… he [God] raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’” (Acts 13:22, ESV)
In the 1900’s, protestant youth were taught to memorize parts of the old Evangelical Catechism. The Catechism was a collection of questions about faith with their answers. The very first question in that Catechism was “What is Man’s chief concern?” The answer was to be memorized by the youth…. “Man's chief concern should be to seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matt. 6:33, Matt. 16:26.”
To graduate from my own catechism class in the 1970’s, I also was required to memorize that catechism. To this day, I can recite those words. To this day, I understand the purpose of all humankind is to “seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, as feminism took hold, women in churches took offense at the use of the words “Kingdom of God”. They requested that the catechism not be memorized any longer. They demanded that the Catechism be removed from churches. As usual, feminists made a huge mistake here. By taking offense at the word “Kingdom” as patriarchal language, they caused many young people to no longer memorize these words of the Bible. Because of this, two whole generations no longer even understand “man’s chief concern” was to seek the Kingdom of God. Their actions encouraged at least two generations of youth to stop seeking to be part of the Kingdom of God!
In contrast to feminists in the last fifty years, David Jeremiah wrote that “The person after God’s heart is the person whose own heart seeks first the kingdom of God.” (p. 53, Morning and Evening Devotions). Jeremiah realized, as I do, that people who love God have a heart for God and desire to be a part of God’s Kingdom. We want to serve the Lord. We want to follow God’s will. We ARE a part of God’s Kingdom on earth!
Now, just because we are a part of God’s Kingdom even now, that does not mean we are perfect followers. That does not mean we don’t mess up. We fail Christ. We sin. We need to repent. We need forgiveness and grace. Look at King David, spoken of in our scripture for the day, Acts 13:22. David was seen by God as “a man after my [God’s] heart, who will do my will”. God loved David. That doesn’t mean David was perfect. He messed up. He sinned greatly against Bathsheba and Uriah and others. Still, David admitted his sin, repented, and sought mercy and forgiveness and grace. Being part of God’s Kingdom doesn’t require your perfection, only your willingness to “be after God’s heart” and “doing God’s will”.
“Ruth Bell Graham wrote of an encounter she had with a young Indian student named Pashi. She spoke with Pashi about Christ, to which he replied, “I would like to believe in Christ, and many in India would like to believe, but we have never seen a Christian who was like Christ.”
A friend of Mrs. Graham told her to tell Pashi, “I’m not offering you Christians. I am offering you Christ.” Good point. No one will ever be excused for not believing in Christ on the basis of Christians’ lack of faithfulness. On the other hand, we should ask ourselves the question, “What does a person look like who says he’s a follower of Christ? Should Christians be like Jesus Christ?”
Perhaps the most well-known answer to that question is the description given of David: a man after God’s own heart, committed to doing all of God’s will. Perhaps, then, that’s what a Christian should be—a person committed to doing all of God’s will. If a government order were issued to arrest everyone who appears to be a Christian, would you be incarcerated?” (p. 53, David Jeremiah, Morning and Evening Devotions).
Do you consider yourself a part of God’s Kingdom today? Are you willing to follow God’s will today? Does God see you as “a man [or woman] after my heart”?
To graduate from my own catechism class in the 1970’s, I also was required to memorize that catechism. To this day, I can recite those words. To this day, I understand the purpose of all humankind is to “seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, as feminism took hold, women in churches took offense at the use of the words “Kingdom of God”. They requested that the catechism not be memorized any longer. They demanded that the Catechism be removed from churches. As usual, feminists made a huge mistake here. By taking offense at the word “Kingdom” as patriarchal language, they caused many young people to no longer memorize these words of the Bible. Because of this, two whole generations no longer even understand “man’s chief concern” was to seek the Kingdom of God. Their actions encouraged at least two generations of youth to stop seeking to be part of the Kingdom of God!
In contrast to feminists in the last fifty years, David Jeremiah wrote that “The person after God’s heart is the person whose own heart seeks first the kingdom of God.” (p. 53, Morning and Evening Devotions). Jeremiah realized, as I do, that people who love God have a heart for God and desire to be a part of God’s Kingdom. We want to serve the Lord. We want to follow God’s will. We ARE a part of God’s Kingdom on earth!
Now, just because we are a part of God’s Kingdom even now, that does not mean we are perfect followers. That does not mean we don’t mess up. We fail Christ. We sin. We need to repent. We need forgiveness and grace. Look at King David, spoken of in our scripture for the day, Acts 13:22. David was seen by God as “a man after my [God’s] heart, who will do my will”. God loved David. That doesn’t mean David was perfect. He messed up. He sinned greatly against Bathsheba and Uriah and others. Still, David admitted his sin, repented, and sought mercy and forgiveness and grace. Being part of God’s Kingdom doesn’t require your perfection, only your willingness to “be after God’s heart” and “doing God’s will”.
“Ruth Bell Graham wrote of an encounter she had with a young Indian student named Pashi. She spoke with Pashi about Christ, to which he replied, “I would like to believe in Christ, and many in India would like to believe, but we have never seen a Christian who was like Christ.”
A friend of Mrs. Graham told her to tell Pashi, “I’m not offering you Christians. I am offering you Christ.” Good point. No one will ever be excused for not believing in Christ on the basis of Christians’ lack of faithfulness. On the other hand, we should ask ourselves the question, “What does a person look like who says he’s a follower of Christ? Should Christians be like Jesus Christ?”
Perhaps the most well-known answer to that question is the description given of David: a man after God’s own heart, committed to doing all of God’s will. Perhaps, then, that’s what a Christian should be—a person committed to doing all of God’s will. If a government order were issued to arrest everyone who appears to be a Christian, would you be incarcerated?” (p. 53, David Jeremiah, Morning and Evening Devotions).
Do you consider yourself a part of God’s Kingdom today? Are you willing to follow God’s will today? Does God see you as “a man [or woman] after my heart”?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus I come before Your throne in prayer. To begin this prayer, I offer You praise and thanks. I praise Your works, Your wisdom, Your truth, Your love. Let all creation praise Your mighty deeds and glorious name! I also give You thanks for redeeming my life. You sought me out. Your intended me to be a follower. You called me to be a part of Your Kingdom! I am so grateful that You reached out to me!
What did I do to deserve such grace? In Jesus, I know that You love all humankind, desiring our obedience while cherishing our faith. May I always be obedient! May I always be faithful in the end!
Help me to be an honorable child of Your Kingdom! Teach me what is right. Help me to learn Your will and trust in Your truth.
Today, I pray that the following people may find their way to faith: _______________________ . I pray for these people who are struggling with choices in life, with illness, and with obedience to You: _______________________ . May each of these souls find strength and righteousness in Your will!
In honor of my Lord Jesus Christ, I will be obedient to You this day! I will be a follower in Your Kingdom! I will endeavor to accomplish Your will. If I fail, Oh my God, help me to repent and accept Your forgiveness! I am Your humble servant. Use me! Amen.
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus I come before Your throne in prayer. To begin this prayer, I offer You praise and thanks. I praise Your works, Your wisdom, Your truth, Your love. Let all creation praise Your mighty deeds and glorious name! I also give You thanks for redeeming my life. You sought me out. Your intended me to be a follower. You called me to be a part of Your Kingdom! I am so grateful that You reached out to me!
What did I do to deserve such grace? In Jesus, I know that You love all humankind, desiring our obedience while cherishing our faith. May I always be obedient! May I always be faithful in the end!
Help me to be an honorable child of Your Kingdom! Teach me what is right. Help me to learn Your will and trust in Your truth.
Today, I pray that the following people may find their way to faith: _______________________ . I pray for these people who are struggling with choices in life, with illness, and with obedience to You: _______________________ . May each of these souls find strength and righteousness in Your will!
In honor of my Lord Jesus Christ, I will be obedient to You this day! I will be a follower in Your Kingdom! I will endeavor to accomplish Your will. If I fail, Oh my God, help me to repent and accept Your forgiveness! I am Your humble servant. Use me! Amen.