Dear Church,

There’s a curious story in 2 Kings 13:18-20. Jehoash, the King of Israel (who did evil in the sight of the Lord), visited the prophet Elisha, who was on his deathbed. Jehoash knew Israel’s future looked bleak without Elisha’s guidance, as enemies surrounded them, waiting to strike. Elisha instructed him to take some arrows and “strike the ground.” Jehoash struck it three times and stopped. This angered Elisha, who said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have completely defeated your enemies.”

Why did this upset Elisha? Because Jehoash lacked passion. His response was half-hearted and careless, revealing a lack of zeal. This indifference would cost his nation dearly. God cares deeply about the devotion of our hearts. Faith is a beautiful dance between desire and dedication fueled by the Holy Spirit.Whether it’s leading a church, nurturing our marriages, raising our children with godly values, worshiping God, praying, or even in life’s everyday tasks, half-heartedness won’t do. To lose desire, whether in marriage or in following Christ, is to say, “I don’t really need you, I don’t really want you, but I’ll stay because I’m supposed to.”

So today, how balanced are our desires and devotions?

Be encouraged,
Mathews