Giving Everything

 The Christian life is not about religion or rituals. It is a relationship with Jesus. I know most of us have heard this before. However, have we really given ourselves fully to that relationship so that we have a close, intimate relationship with Jesus? Yes, I use that word "intimate" on purpose. After all the Bible says that marriage is a picture of what our relationship with Jesus should be. We are to be married to Jesus. We are to be one with Him, just like a husband and wife give themselves to each other and become one. We are to give our all to Jesus every day.

I believe Jesus was making this point when He saw a very poor widow putting her offering in the box at the Temple, and He commended her highly over the others who were giving. (Mark 12:44) "For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on." I know Jesus was talking about the two mites she gave, but I think the lesson is much more than a lesson about money. What kind of a heart does it take to give the Lord everything you have to live on? That is what all of us need to have, as believers.

Once we are saved, Jesus is Lord of our life. He is to be our "boss." I know that is a business term, but I think most people know more about having a boss than having a Lord. When Jesus calls on us to give Him something, we need to be willing to give Him all of what we have. That is what a close, intimate relationship requires. We can't give Him 50% of what He asks, just like a husband can't just give 50% of his love and commitment to his wife. We have to be "all in." Then, we can walk with Jesus every day and have a complete relationship.

What would you do if the Lord called you to leave your family and your country and go to a strange land to minister for Him, like He called Abraham to do? What would you do if God told you to build and ark or something else to protect you from a disaster that was coming, like He called Noah to do.? What if God called you to go next door to talk with your neighbor about Jesus? Would you say that you can't give your time, or you are not willing to give the effort to reach your neighbor? See what I mean, we have to be willing to give everything we have to Jesus, time, talents, money, or whatever He asks.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Mark 13-15.