Abandoning The Things Of This World Starts In The Heart

Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. —Matthew 5:41

“Our Lord’s teaching can be summed up in this: the relationship that He demands for us is an impossible one unless He has done a supernatural work in us. No amount of enthusiasm will ever stand up to the strain that Jesus Christ will put upon His servant. Only one thing will bear the strain, and that is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ Himself— a relationship that has been examined, purified, and tested until only one purpose remains and I can truly say, “I am here for God to send me where He will.” - Oswald Chambers

Many of Chamber’s devotions were derived from his lectures at a Bible College.  He was speaking to men and women who had been called by God to service beyond what most of us are called to after our conversion.  But, the principles for all of us are the same.  Even the person with only one spiritual gift and that, they may wrongly consider to be almost non-essential, (God does not agree with them by the way) faces the same challenges that every other saint faces in living their new life. We are all called to abandon the same things, even though for most it will be an abandonment in the heart, while with a few, it will require physical abandonment.  

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. - Matthew 16:24

It is one thing to say that you love God more than your family, it is quite another to leave your family and go on Mission for God.  It is one thing to say that you do not love the things of this world, it is quite another to sell your house and put your retirement at risk in order to go where God has said “Go!”.

I would find it very difficult to write these things to you if I had no intention of doing them myself.  When I was on staff with Promise Keepers in the ‘90s, there was a saying that was popular among us.  “You can’t teach what you don’t know, you can’t lead where you won’t go, and you can only recreate what you are.”  The secret to going is obedience and faith.  Faith comes from God and obedience comes from a “broken and contrite heart”, wholly submitted to the will of God.  

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. - Psalm 51:17

Every step you take for God requires the power of God.  It is a glorious life .. living by faith and not by sight.  The person who abandons their life's devotions in their heart is no less faithful than the one who also abandons physically in response to the call of God. The point is, being obedient to God no matter what He calls you to do. So when the Spirit whispers in your ear, “This is the way walk in it.”  (Isaiah 30:21) Walk on! … to the glory of God and in testimony to a world that needs to see Jesus.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone