Reality

Oswald Chambers states in My Utmost for His Highest, "Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell -- it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes."

The call of God is not to make sanctification the goal of our preaching, but to preach the gospel -- the reality of redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. Chambers went on to say, "The one passion of Paul (the apostle)'s life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason -- these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God."

Everyday we count the cost of our decisions before we make them... or at least we should. Have we considered counting the cost of discipleship to Jesus Christ? For many, this cost is and was death -- death to self, the death of their own desires and dreams, and finally, death to life on this earth. But they were not the first. They followed in Christ's footsteps. He considered the ultimate cost in redeeming the lost and paid that cost in full.

Lord, whatever the cost, I will follow You. Do not let me hesitate for one second, but rather give me the strength and the power of your Holy Spirit to do all that You would have me to do, and to willingly sacrifice whatever You are going to ask of me. I surrender. I know the road isn't easy... I know it's often times full of death and heartache... but Lord, even though You lead me through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, You are with me. The pain and tears are nothing compared to the times where You have quieted me with Your love and shown me Your devotion and faithfulness to me by showing Yourself strong on my behalf when all I've been is weak. For this reason I choose to follow You. I'm tired of trying to do things my own way. Have YOUR way in me. Take every part. I'm so done living for me. Be my everything. Be my all in all.