A Heart to Know You

It’s one very simple verse, but it’s packed full of meaning and profound truth.

“I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.”  Jeremiah 24:7

Over and over in the OT, the Lord reiterated his covenantal promise that Israel would be His people and He would be their God.  The exclusive love for these people was eternally profound.  Yet, here in Jeremiah, the Lord added a simple phrase to His covenantal promise, “I will give them a heart to know Me.”

Any and all desire to know Jesus, comes from Jesus.  There is nothing good in and of ourselves that causes us to seek after God.  We’ve all gone our own way.  Seeking is a gift from God.  It’s a grace given to those whom God chooses.  As I read through this, my immediate prayer was, “God, please give my children a heart to know You.”  That was the prayer of my parents over 30 years ago for me, (and still is) and now that’s my prayer for my own kids.

I’m beginning to see glimmers of this prayer answered as they inquire about what it means to know God, how does one hear from God, why did Jesus have to die, etc. These little questions stir something inside me that echo the sentiment that Jeremiah must have felt for a nation he loved, and that God loved.  Let this be the prayer for your own children, or those that you love today.

Jesus, give Rainy, Zeke, Cai and our little African baby, whoever he/she is, a heart to know You.