"HE MADE KNOWN HIS WAYS TO MOSES, His Acts to the children of Israel."
Psalm 103:7 (NKJV)
"SHOW ME YOUR WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR PATHS."
Psalm 25:4 (NKJV)
• God is calling every Believer to this kind of life; the life of total commitment and submissiveness.
- If you wanted to live this kind of life, your life would be fraught with; Pains, Trials, Testings and Hardships.
- You also would need to learn how to exercise self control, be disciplined and diligent, and be consistent in your walk with God.
• Why many could not live this life:
(i) Many could not attain this life because of the flesh. They indulge their flesh in bad habits.
(ii) Some could not because of the temptations and distractions of the world.
a. They desire the submissive and total commitment life, and at the same time wanted to please the world.
b. Some look at the other so-called Christians doing well materially, yet, not living a committed and submissive life.
c. Some of these Christians even would want to discourage any Believer, who aspires to live such a life from doing so.
THEY might say God is not all that hard, living a Christian life is not so difficult. LIFE in Christ is simple and easy, you should not kill yourself.
THAT God is kind and merciful.
THAT God understands our weaknesses and overlooks our shortcomings.
THEY say no one can attain God's standards of holiness, all of us are just trying (Job 4:18).
- The Truth is: listening to all these, the points mentioned above, and more; may discourage you from living a life of total commitment and submissiveness to God.
- The kingdom of darkness also would be setting traps for your falling. The Believers who wanted to live a life of total commitment and submissiveness would have the flesh, the world, and the devil to contend with:
"YES, AND ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION" (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV). - You would always be confronted and receive attacks from the agents of the devil—those who had sold their hearts to the devil (2 Timothy 2:25,26).
• The truth is, the life of unreserved commitment and total submissiveness to God, is a threat to carnal Christians, the unbelievers, and those who are human agents of the dark kingdom:
8 "BUT ELYMAS THE SORCERER (for so his name is translated) WITHSTOOD [opposed] THEM, SEEKING TO TURN THE PROCONSUL AWAY FROM THE FAITH. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O FULL OF ALL DECEIT AND ALL FRAUD, YOU SON OF THE DEVIL, YOU ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, WILL YOU NOT STOP PERVERTING THE STRAIGHT WAYS OF THE LORD?" (Acts 13:8-10 NKJV).
READ: Revelation 12:17
a. Living a life of diligence and commitment exposes their lives. Thus they would want to turn whoever wants to live such a life away from the faith.
b. It exposes their Sins, the works of darkness they do.
c. It exposes their evils and secrets.
- With these they would want to frustrate you and would not want you to be committed and diligent in your walk with God (Acts 13:8).
a. They want you to believe that such a life cannot be lived in this world. And If you lived not in the same way they do, you looked strange to them:
"FOR we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the Will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 IN REGARD TO THESE, THEY THINK IT STRANGE THAT YOU DO NOT RUN WITH THEM IN THE SAME FLOOD OF DISSIPATION, SPEAKING EVIL OF YOU" (1 Peter 4:4 NKJV).
b. They want to discourage you, deceive you, deter you, and lead you astray, or away from living such a life. - However, you have to be determined, and be resolute to live such a life. Because, It is the best life that God desires all His children to live.
• Are you shying away from living such a life—a life of unwavering commitment and total submissiveness? - Are you afraid to make a commitment, and adopt such a life?
- Although there might be a need to count the cost before the commitment is made. To think on it and know the importance of it before you can make the choice:
27 AND WHOEVER DOES NOT BEAR HIS CROSS AND COME AFTER ME CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. 28 FOR WHICH OF YOU, INTENDING TO BUILD A TOWER, DOES NOT SIT DOWN FIRST AND COUNT THE COST, WHETHER HE HAS ENOUGH TO FINISH IT— 29 LEST, after he has laid the foundation, AND is not able to FINISH, ALL WHO SEE IT BEGIN TO MOCK HIM" (Luke 14:27-29 NKJV). - The decision should not be done haphazardly, but with soberness and thoughtfulness.
• Jesus in His Word says: "THEN HE SAID TO THEM ALL, “IF ANYONE DESIRES TO COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, AND FOLLOW ME" (Luke 9:23 NKJV).
- You have to make the choice.
- The word is conditional, "IF ANYONE DESIRES" that is, If you want, desire, or long, to follow Him.
a. It is a personal decision.
b. It is a matter of choice. God will not decide for you. And He will not impose His Will on you.
• Note: Whoever likes could have this kind of life, anyone can choose to follows Jesus Christ our Lord.
- However, such would have to deny himself or herself and take up their Cross daily. It is a choice life!
- The Cross connotes, among other things; the pains, the hardships, and trials that would come on whoever made the choice As they are faithful to God:
"THEREFORE I TAKE PLEASURE IN INFIRMITIES, in REPROACHES, in NEEDS, in PERSECUTIONS, in DISTRESSES, for CHRIST'S SAKE. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, I AM STRONG" (2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV). - The "Daily" means there is a need for consistency in carrying the cross. It is a day by day affair.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever ailment in your body is rebuked in Jesus' name.
- Whatever is contrary to your health is rooted out in Jesus' name. And you are made whole completely in Jesus' name.
Peace!
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!