Complete Devotion

"Peter said to him, 'We have left everything to follow you!' "

Mark 10:28

I sometimes feel like Peter, thinking about all the things I've sacrificed in order to follow Jesus.  I had to let go of certain relationships, hobbies, leisure activities, ways of thinking, and beliefs because they got in the way of my following Jesus.  If I focus on what I've given up, I start to feel sorry for myself and even a little self-righteous.  "Hey!  I'm not like that rich man because I've given up everything to follow you!" 

In reality, that is impossible.  As a mere human, it is impossible for me in my own strength to follow Jesus purely out of devotion to Him and not because of what I will get out of following Him.  Eternal life.  Freedom from sin.  Ministry.

Oswald Chambers challenges me with this thought.  He said, "If we only give up something to God because we want more back, there is nothing of the Holy Spirit in our abandonment; it is miserable commercial self-interest.  That we gain heaven, that we are delivered from sin, that we are made useful to God--these things never enter as considerations into real abandonment, which is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself."

How much am I willing to leave behind out of devotion to Jesus?  How much do I instead give up because I know it will build my character or grow my faith?

Devotion to Jesus Christ means complete abandonment to Him without a thought of what's in it for me.

Confidence in God

When I first met my husband, I didn't know much about him.  I knew that he claimed to follow Jesus.  I knew that he loved weight lifting as much as I did.  And I knew he was a soldier.  I didn't know much.

As I spent time with him, I got to know more about him.  I learned his idiosyncrasies, his ways of speaking, and his likes and dislikes.  I learned what drove him and what discouraged him.  I found out what made him angry and what melted his heart.

It is the same with God.  When I first came to know Jesus as my Savior I knew a few basic things about Him.  He loved me enough to die for me.  He would never leave me.  His Spirit lives within me to guide me and comfort me.

But it wasn't until I started spending time with him that I really got to know Him.  Pastor and writer Henry Blackaby said, "You will never be satisfied just to know about God.  Really knowing God only comes through experience as he reveals himself to you."

God calls me to Himself so that I can know Him.  In getting to know Him, I learn that everything comes from Him: He is responsible for my coming to Christ and trusting Him as my Savior.  He promises help, guidance, protection, vengeance, and answer to prayers over 7000 times(1) in His Word.  He gives me everything I need to live a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

It's all there for the taking.  All that's missing is my willingness to give up my rights to myself, my  sense of entitlement to be my own boss and my desire to be self-sufficient.

As I get to know God on a personal level, I see that I can trust Him with every part of my life.  My confidence in Him grows when I learn more about His character and attributes.

Abandon Control

I recently went to an Orthopedic Specialist for some help with a bum knee.  As he examined the trouble spot, he told me to relax my leg.  He wanted me to give him control over my leg so he could move it the way he wanted to as part of his examination.  

I found it hard to give him complete control on the "bad" side.  I was guarding it out of fear of pain or further injury.  Even though I was in the hands of a qualified professional, I did not trust him completely with my damaged leg.

This is like me with God.  He instructs me to give Him full control, but I find myself guarding my areas of past pain, fears or pride.  There are some things I just don't want to give over to Him. 

The thing is, healing will not come until I open myself up to God and let Him have dominion over those areas of my life.  He will take all my hurts, fears and pride and transform them into a beautiful life I can feel secure in committing to Him.  

Once I know how much God loves me and cares for me, I can learn to trust Him with all things.   

Follow His Lead

I am naturally impatient, selfish, self-centered, self-conscious, sarcastic, and prideful to name a few personal characteristics.  In other words, I am pretty ugly.

Thankfully, as a follower of Christ, I can share in God's nature.  He is loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kind, faithful, gentle, good and disciplined, to name a few attributes.  As I learn more about Him and put my trust in Him, I feel confident to let go of my natural ways and let His character shine through.

Unfortunately, this is not a one-time act, but an ongoing practice of letting go of my nature and putting on the nature of God.

The Apostle Paul described it this way in Galatians 5:24-25.  "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."

It is only in following the leading of the Spirit of God that I have any hope of resembling Him in His nature.  As His adopted child, I can share in His divine nature instead of looking like a child of the world.

I want to be wholeheartedly devoted to Christ without regard for what's in it for me.  Before I can do this, however,  I will need to build confidence in God by getting to know Him, abandon all control to Him, and follow His lead in every moment of my life.  Then I won't be so focused on defending my life choices to those around me.  Instead, I'll be fully committed to His will for my life out of utter dedication to Him and His character traits will shine through to those around me.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will stop worrying about my own best interests and instead think about what would please my Savior.

How do I betray my self-interest in the decisions I make throughout the day?

When do I insist on having control in order to protect old wounds or areas of pride? 

(1) Everet R. Storm, Time, Dec. 4 1956