Absolute Surrender

Dear Friends,

As we are ready to face a new year, and
many new challenges and changes, I have a question
for each of you to take to heart.

Is your heart in right standing before God?
If a light was shined deep into every part of your soul
and thinking, would you be found to have light
or darkness in you?

We as Christians must
examine ourselves daily before the throne of God,
and seek to clean out and change any area of our
life that is not submitted to Him. We cannot
grow in Christ, if we remain a baby in the word of God
and do not seek to become a disciple of Christ,
following his teachings and applying them to our lives.

If your life was a diagram, showing each part of your
life as a statistic, how much of you is devoted to your job?
How much of your life is devoted to your family?
How much of your life is devoted to God?
What things are you pursuing most in your life,
and giving most of your time to?

Is your life in balance? Or are there areas in your life,
you have been hiding from God, holding onto for yourself?

Many people become Christians in name.. but never grow in
Christ. They attend church, they go through the motions,
but they have no depth to their spiritual life. I have to wonder
is it just a desire to be religious, but not spiritual? Do we
want to relieve a feeling of guilt, of not being right with God,
but then once we go to church we think we have done our
duty and go on our merry way, un submitted and unconcerned
about God in our daily life and thoughts? Do we in essence
say, Ok God, I have done my duty, don't bug me through
the week, and don't ask me to step out of my comfort zone
or routine?

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:
20I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (amplified version)

Has your life been crucified with Christ?
Is your all laid on the altar of Christ? Are there hidden areas
of sin, and darkness in your life? Do you take your relationship
with Christ seriously?

God has laid this message on my heart for a couple of days now.
He wants those who claim to be His, to live as if they are.
No compromise, no games, no hidden parts. He wants
a army of believers who stand for His truth, and do His
will, submitting to Him daily.

This will mean that you take time to go to God in prayer,
ask Him to show you the areas of your life that need
to be changed and given to him. Ask Him to lead
you, you will feel these small urgings and callings
in your heart as you talk to Him. Listen, quickly,
while there is time. He is calling your name, and
has plans for you. But He wants clean hands and
a pure heart. Rise to the calling, and make a difference
in this world. For if our gospel is hidden (because
we are lazy, unproductive and unsubmitted Christians)
the gospel is then hidden to those who are lost
without Christ.

These are great responsibilities, and we must
face them and live them, if we wish to please God.
We cannot compromise our title of "Christian"
because of selfishness, or clinging to things
we know are not pleasing to God.

For your sake, for the sake of your heavenly Father,
and for the sake of those around you who do not know
Christ.. be a light for Him.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot
be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

Will you rise to the high calling and the task set before you?
Seek the Lord while He may be found, and submit to Him,
truly make Him Lord and Savior of your daily life and walk.

Remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last.