May the words of my mouth and thoughts of my heart find favor before You - O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. ^Psalm 19:14

1/06/2012

.fully committed

Luke 9:23 - And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Following the Messiah and denying oneself daily is not an easy task. Surrender and sacrifice is never "fun", and yet..... it is worth it.

I was reading this week about a practice that was allowed by the church when the Knights of Templar would be baptized. A very weird practice. When one of the Knights would be baptized in the church, they would take their sword with them. They didn't bring their swords under the water, however. As they were immersed, they held their swords up in the air; that way their sword would be completely dry, and they would be completely soaked. It was a soldier's way of saying "I am a Christian, and God can have all of me.....but not this. Not this part." I couldn't help but think of today. How many Christians would be in that same situation, and instead of holding up a sword, they might take a remote control.....or a wallet....

The Bible defines the opposite. God specifically talks about complete and total surrender. No looking back.

Luke 9:61 -  Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Elisha in 1 Kings is a great example of this kind of commitment. Elijah was told to go select Elisha as his "successor," and at the time Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha's shoulders, Elisha was plowing in his field. But when he heard of his calling, "He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant."

He.slaughtered.his.oxen. For his neighbors to eat! It was a complete turn around, and he was running to be a bond slave for his Creator. I think the reason God is so adamant about us surrendering everything is because the one thing we are most reluctant to give up is the one thing that has the most potential to become a substitute for Him.

2 Chronicles 16:9 - "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."