First thing a man’s got to remember when he starts out in life, is make sure he’s sitting right with his Maker. Because he never knows when he’s going to meet up with Him.”
–Major Mitchell (Poverty Flat)
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
–2 Timothy 4:6 (NKJV)
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“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.”
–Romans 12:1 (Amplified)
Many people want the “abundant life,” but I wonder, do they really? To have that abundant life is to forsake the world and the things in it, forsake yourself and pick up your cross daily to follow Jesus. That is the only “reasonable, rational, and intelligent service and spiritual worship.” Abundance, having whatever you want is not living an abundant life. The having of things is not what Jesus meant. Having more of the Spirit is to live an abundant life.
If the abundant life consists of “things,” then what happens when all is lost? What happens when the storm rages and it is all washed away? What happens when the enemy attacks and the battle is fierce and the wounds severe? Paul understood the reality of giving his life to Christ; happiness was not having things, but knowing that he had spiritual resources within himself whether shipwrecked or in a Roman prison.
Pascal said, “The man who lives only for himself hates nothing so much as being alone with himself.” When days of sorrow sweep in like a whirlwind, when suffering buffets us with the winds of adversity, where will your strength lie? If it is in “things,” if it is within yourself, then you are for sure in deep trouble. Our lives are not our own, we are given them for a while to worship the Lord. And what does He want? For us to have more possession–no, but to have more of Him. That cannot happen unless we empty ourselves of our humanistic tendencies and become rooted in Jesus, rooted and grounded in love. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19, NKJV)
To thrive in this world, get rid of the baggage that you are carrying and do not pick up any more. Live in the fullness of Christ. Make the sacrifice on the altar and get rid of self by being a “living, sacrifice” that is holy and “well pleasing to God.” May the words of the hymnist, Thoro Harris, bring this truth closer to our hearts.
“Are you trusting Jesus, all along the way?
Does He grow more precious to your heart each day?
Are you His disciple? Test His Word and see,
He will give the Spirit more abundantly.
Come to Him believing, hearken to His call;
All from His receiving, yield to Him your all;
Jesus will accept you when to Him you flee;
He will grant His blessings more abundantly.”
————————————
“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.”
–Romans 12:1 (Amplified)
Many people want the “abundant life,” but I wonder, do they really? To have that abundant life is to forsake the world and the things in it, forsake yourself and pick up your cross daily to follow Jesus. That is the only “reasonable, rational, and intelligent service and spiritual worship.” Abundance, having whatever you want is not living an abundant life. The having of things is not what Jesus meant. Having more of the Spirit is to live an abundant life.
If the abundant life consists of “things,” then what happens when all is lost? What happens when the storm rages and it is all washed away? What happens when the enemy attacks and the battle is fierce and the wounds severe? Paul understood the reality of giving his life to Christ; happiness was not having things, but knowing that he had spiritual resources within himself whether shipwrecked or in a Roman prison.
Pascal said, “The man who lives only for himself hates nothing so much as being alone with himself.” When days of sorrow sweep in like a whirlwind, when suffering buffets us with the winds of adversity, where will your strength lie? If it is in “things,” if it is within yourself, then you are for sure in deep trouble. Our lives are not our own, we are given them for a while to worship the Lord. And what does He want? For us to have more possession–no, but to have more of Him. That cannot happen unless we empty ourselves of our humanistic tendencies and become rooted in Jesus, rooted and grounded in love. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19, NKJV)
To thrive in this world, get rid of the baggage that you are carrying and do not pick up any more. Live in the fullness of Christ. Make the sacrifice on the altar and get rid of self by being a “living, sacrifice” that is holy and “well pleasing to God.” May the words of the hymnist, Thoro Harris, bring this truth closer to our hearts.
“Are you trusting Jesus, all along the way?
Does He grow more precious to your heart each day?
Are you His disciple? Test His Word and see,
He will give the Spirit more abundantly.
Come to Him believing, hearken to His call;
All from His receiving, yield to Him your all;
Jesus will accept you when to Him you flee;
He will grant His blessings more abundantly.”