Jeroboam's sin

In I Kings 14, we read about how the Lord rebuked Jeroboam. Abijah, son of Jeroboam, became ill and Jeroboam sent his wife to Ahijah the prophet to inquire if his son might get better. Ahijah, as instructed by the Lord, rather rebuked Jeroboam of his sin and said that Abijah would die. Jeroboam's sin was that he was not like David, who kept the Lord's commands and followed Him with all his heart. Jeroboam sinned by not following the Lord with all his heart.

Similarly in II Chronicles 13, we read about Rehoboam's sin. It says in verse 14, "He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord."

Our Lord God says He is a jealous God. To love Him with anything less than all one's heart is not good enough. What He desires is not that He is Number One on my priority list, with other priorities following Him; what He desires is that He is the Only One that I love with all my heart. The psalmist confesses that his eyes are "fixed" on the Lord (Psalm 141:8). The writer of Hebrews admonishes us that we should fix our thoughts on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1) and fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Asaph's confession is the same: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." (Psalm 73:25). Whether I go up to heaven or come down to earth, my thoughts, my desire, and my yearning are all to be devoted to the Lord.

I think the relationship between a man and his wife was given to us, so that we may better understand the relationship between Jesus and His church, between God and His people (Ephesians 5:22-33). As a man, would I want to be my wife's husband for only 75 % of her time and heart, with the remainder distributed to other men? If that were to occur, she would be considered unfaithful. Or, would my wife want to be my wife for only 90 % of my time and heart, with the remainder sidetracked to other women? If that were to occur, I would be commiting adultery and she would burn with anger and jealousy. A husband's jealousy is said to arouse his fury, so that he would show no mercy when he takes revenge (Proverbs 6:34).

If the message about jealousy between a husband and a wife is so clear, why should I not comprehend that God demands absolute devotion from me, that He wants me to love Him with ALL my heart, and that my thoughts and eyes are to be fixed upon Him?

Lord, I want to love you with all my heart, with all my spirit, with all my body, with all my strength, with all my life, and with all my will. I love you, Lord. Amen.