Your All

Your All 

by David Brenneman 

Since God is for those who are in Christ...are you for what He's got in mind for you? 

Some have this idea that their salvation in Christ is just a golden ticket to get into Heaven's door. That they'll live their lives with that in their hip pocket n go on about living 'better'.  

Some have this idea that they can choose just as well as God for what they want to do with their life.

Some have this idea that the good that happens to them is something they deserve. 

Some think that it's going to be enough to just slip into Heaven without doing anything for obedience to God's Word. 

These are certainly misconceptions and only have their roots in either the sin nature of these people or within the thoughts of Satan and his minions. 

It's rather disturbing to see flavors of these thoughts in people who actually do go to Church. They go, listen to the sermon, an leave for the week not having thought again about Jesus until the following Sunday. 

Still others treat what the Jesus commanded as optional. That He'll "understand" when they stand before Him. That they'll be ok.

How seriously should a Believer take their new life in Christ after being saved by Jesus?  

The answer is right in all 4 Gospels...Jesus refused to let anyone or anything keep Him from completing the task set before Him...the cross. He was never persuaded to go some other way, some other path. Satan's temptations, of which we have only 3 recorded, show that temptation was among the highest of his priorities with Jesus. 

Jesus took His life 100% seriously in living for His Father. He is to be our example. The model of that runner who's running the race set before him or her. He wouldn't let personal things get in the way. Would not let things of this world get in His way. Would always point people to a life of obedience to God's Word. A life of commitment to that obedience in Christ. 

So how much of a Believer's life should be lived for Him? All of it.

Without excuse or exceptions.

As a popular song asks "is your all on the altar?"

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:12-13.

By coming to Christ for salvation all who are saved have targets on them by these rulers, powers, world forces of wickedness.   

In other words this race set before you is going to need you on your game for reaching that prize at the end of your life. Going to mean exactly what Jesus said of denying yourself, taking up your own cross and following Jesus.  

For a time the "what would Jesus do" craze was popular...and it wasn't wrong to consider that question. The answer is more than living in the character of Christ, it's living in the character of Christ and taking up our own cross and following Jesus. Denying self whenever we step out into life and living for Jesus in all that we do.

Is your all on the altar?  

Are you sugar coating what you are doing in your life to make it sound like you're all in for Jesus but you really aren't?

I highly recommend getting on your knees and recommitting your whole life to Jesus again and fully seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. It's going to mean hard choices and likely giving up some things.

But those things we give up won't matter when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives. 

Think hard about that. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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