Is there something that you currently have your heart set on? Has there been something in the past that you had your heart set on? Maybe it was a new car. A vacation. Getting married. Getting a raise. Going to college. Whatever the case may be, when we set our heart on something it becomes important to us. We want it. We want to do it. We can’t wait until it happens. We are going to do whatever it takes to get there. All our effort and energy goes into it. It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s enjoyable. It has our focus and our attention.
What is your heart set on most in life? Each day when you get up, have breakfast, get a shower, and brush your pearly whites what are you most concerned about? What has your attention and focus for the day? Is it God? Is it growing closer to Him and serving Him that day in all you do? It should be. Our hearts need to be set on God. God deserves and commands that we give Him our love, hearts, minds, strength, our everything.
Ezra is a good example for us today. In the book of Ezra, God’s people were allowed to return to Jerusalem after their exile. They rebuilt the Temple and dedicated it. Then they celebrated the Passover. And on to the scene comes Ezra. Ezra was one who was going to return to Jerusalem. Ezra was excited to go. Ezra was motivated and had a purpose. Notice what we are told about Ezra in Ezra 7:10. It says that “Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach His statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra set his heart on God. The most important thing to Ezra was to know God’s Word, obey it, and help teach others to do the same. That has to be what we set our hearts on too. We have to daily study God’s Word so that we can know what He wants us to do. How He wants us to live. What is pleasing to Him. Once we know what God says, then we have to go and do it. Jesus said in John 14:15 that if we love Him we’ll keep His commandments. Our desire should then be to help others learn and obey. We need to teach others what God says and then help them do it. Encourage. Rebuke. Love. Support.
Set your heart on God. Study your Bible. Do what God says. Help others know and follow God. Rejoice in the Lord. Be excited. Diligent. Do it on purpose. Make the effort needed. Put God first every day. Have a passion for your God. He is Lord of our lives. Give Him your heart.
A Cord of Blue 