May 20, 2021: SOAP #4186:  1Kings 6; 2Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 1:9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will, the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am bound both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.

OBSERVATION: Serving God with his “whole heart” is seen in the following passage in expressions of commitment, emotion, and thought. 
verse 9:  he constantly remembers them…they are always in his thoughts.
verse 10:  he prays for them all the time.
verse 11:  he desires to see them and be with them.
verse 13:  he planned many times to visit them.
verse 14:  he is bound, required, assigned.
verse 15:  he is eager to fulfill his assignment.

APPLICATION:  Obviously, being “whole-hearted” can be seen.  The attitude of the heart becomes visible to others. It is a characteristic that cannot be easily hidden. 

Am I serving God with my whole heart?  Ask those who see me every day. 

PRAYER: Lord, you deserve whole-hearted devotion.  May those who know me have no doubt about my devotion to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!