Joy: 37-Day DevotionalSample

What divides your heart? As a follower of Christ, what are the things that compete for your affection? Unfortunately for me, I have quite a long list of things that pull my attention away from the only true source of life. I tend to let my family, my possessions, my ambition, and a host of other things turn my attention away from what truly matters.

In Matthew 19:21-22 a young man struggles between his desire to be a disciple of Jesus and his love of money. He is willing to perform all the outward practices of a Christian, but he isn’t willing to change his heart. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). In the end, the man chooses his possessions, and while we would love to say that we would never find ourselves in the same situation, I would caution each of us to examine our own hearts. If God is truly first in your life, then anything and everything else is insignificant. Nothing compares to Him. The young man could not see that his great estate was nothing compared to the Lord’s forgiveness, His righteousness, and His love. 

We have to forsake our sin and commit to following Jesus at all costs. Our Savior gave His life for us. He died so that we can live. He absolutely requires more than we ever thought, but He also offers more to us than we could have ever dreamed or imagined. It is a privilege and a gift to serve Jesus with our whole hearts. 

Dear, dear Jesus, please help me to turn my heart and my eyes to You and nothing else. I don’t want to divide my heart like the rich, young man, but I can’t do it on my own. I need You, Jesus. Oh, how I need Your love and grace every single minute of every single day. Thank You for loving me in Your holy and perfect way!