Be Deteremined

Those from every tribe of Israel who had determined in their hearts to seek the LORD their God… – 2 Chronicles 11.16, CSB

When it comes to your walk with the Lord, are you determined? Young’s Literal Translation words 2 Chronicles 11.16 this way: “…those giving their hearts to seek Jehovah, God of Israel,…” (emphasis added). This doesn’t sound like something that is left up to chance. It’s not a lifestyle of uncertainty, leaving everything up to “if the stars align.” It’s not waiting for our hearts to be filled with a desire for something and then acting on that desire as long as it coincides with our preferences of ease. No. It’s about being determined and giving our heart to something regardless of how we feel or the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Paul introduced this same idea in his first letter to the Christians in Corinth. Listen to how he words it. “So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9.26-27, CSB). Does this sound like leaving things to fate or chance? Of course not. But do we have a “let go, let God” mentality with the things that he has called us to take responsibility for? Please hear me. I believe that God wants me to let go of things and the control I think I have as he accomplishes his work in me and around me for his glory. But this does not mean that I simply sit around waiting for heaven, drinking an iced tea under an umbrella next to the pool while God does everything. I have a responsibility in my walk with the Lord. I am called to work out my salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2.12). I have to fight the sinful desires of my flesh that wage war against my soul and say yes to the Holy Spirit, the lover of my soul, whose desires are at war with my sinful desires (Galatians 5.16-18). 

The word Paul used for “discipline” in 1 Corinthians 9.27 is the word hypōpiazō. The word means to annoy and thus, to wear out. It means to “exercise self-control, implying rough treatment as an ancient boxer might use harsh treatment or intense discipline” (James Swanson).* This doesn’t sound easy. And it’s not. We were called to follow Jesus as his disciples. At no point did he tell us that it would be easy. The call is high. And while our salvation is God’s gift to us, to be freely received by us, discipleship will cost us everything. We are not called to only “be saved.” We are invited and called to follow Jesus, and with our “yes” to his invitation to follow, he gives us salvation. But the best part of this journey with Jesus is Jesus. We get to walk with him. We get to learn from him. We get to be transformed and changed by him, through the Holy Spirit. And we get to follow him and learn from him. But we must be determined to continue to walk. We must give our hearts to follow Jesus. We must give our hearts to seek him and to live in obedience to him

God penned these words through his prophet Jeremiah, which should encourage us to the core of our being. “You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you…” (Jeremiah 29.12-14, CSB). This is the promise that God gave to Israel while they were in captivity because of their rebellion against him. He told them that they would find him when they sought and searched for him with all of their hearts. Him. They would find him. And we will find him as well. And there is nothing greater or better than him. Everything else pales in comparison to knowing Jesus.

Jesus – Thank you for loving me so well. Thank you for wanting intimate fellowship with me. Thank you for the invitation to follow you. I will give my heart, regardless of how I’m feeling, to seek you daily. I will determine to live a life set apart for you, not dependent upon my own strength and abilities, but completely reliant upon your power and grace that you lavish on me. I will determine to say no to my sinful desires, even “chastising my body and bringing it into servitude” so that I might live to your glory and enjoy you along the way. I will continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling because you’re worth it, and I want to know you more.

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* (Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament), Electronic ed., Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.).