12/09/2025
Have we given up everything we are to Jesus Christ? It is easy to lay down the sinful, and evil things in our lives, but have we also laid down those we have always considered to be good? Abandoning those things to God that we naturally identify as being good and wholesome is the most profound test of our faith. Even though being able to leave behind those things that are sinful and contrary to God’s commandments and desire for us remains the foundation of our faithfulness and obedience.
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 5:24 ESV
I think of certain saints as being examples this morning, but one in particular comes to mind. Mother Teresa, or you might know her as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, she is someone who answered the call of Christ and left not only the sin and wrongful things in her life behind, but the good and comfortable ones as well. At 18 she left her mother and sister in Macedonia to become a nun and never saw them again. As a missionary nun she lived in Ireland and then India, but God had plans for her that extended far beyond the somewhat comfortable walls of the convent. She left even that meager life to live in the slums of Calcutta and dedicated her life to answering God’s will for her there, and in other slums around the world. God did amazing things by using her willingness to surrender herself completely. This is exactly what Jesus was calling the rich young ruler to do in Matthew 19.
“Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Matthew 19:21-22 ESV
Sometimes God requires us to do hard things in order to perform His will. He doesn’t ask us to abandon obvious things in our lives, no, He asks us to leave behind those things that are stumbling blocks and keep us from executing his plan and will for us. Certainly, there will be some of us who are asked to leave everything like Mother Teresa, and the rich young ruler, but for most of us the ask will be much smaller. What we are asked to surrender will depend on what God has planned for us, but we should always be prepared to surrender everything if He should ask that of us.
Pastor Oswald Chambers wrote about the difficulty in giving up those things that we view as being good in our lives so that they would not inhibit our faith and obedience to God’s Word. Let’s read what he had to say...
“It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence and self-assertiveness, and this is where the battle has to be fought. It is the things that are right and noble and good from the natural standpoint that keep us back from God’s best.” - Oswald Chambers
I have watched several episodes of an old television show called “Undercover Boss.” In this reality series the head of a corporation would disguise him or herself and work a job at the lowest levels of their company. What happened when they did this was that it showed them not only the good and bad parts of their business, but the good and bad of decisions they had made, and of the employees who worked for them. The insight this provided was priceless. I have often wondered what would happen if this was lived out at a spiritual level.
What would happen if we were a wealthy owner of a large business and God called us to sell it, and to take a lowly job in that selfsame company? Could we do it? Could we go to work in a menial capacity in a company we started and built to greatness because God asked us to do that? We are not privy to where the will of God is ultimately taking us so we would have no idea what He had in store for us if He said “Sell it, give the proceeds to charity, and take a job mopping floors.” However, that is exactly what we should be prepared to do. We should have enough faith and trust in Him to know that His plan for us will bring about His best in our lives... and the lives of others.
I have had a similar experience in my career, but at a lesser level. However, what I thought was God’s plan for me when I left a high-level job to do a lesser one in the company where I now work, turned out to be much smaller than what He actually had in mind for me. The work He had prepared for me to do for His Kingdom was much greater and further reaching than I ever anticipated. Over the years souls were saved, prayers offered for the sick and suffering, and the overall workings of my company have been impacted by Him through me... and after an amazing 40 years the story is not over.
When God speaks and asks that we obey Him in some fashion... we are meant to do it! We should make certain that it’s His voice we hear and then obey Him. The blessings will be immense, and the impact on the Kingdom of God will be profound. You see... we seem to think that a president, a CEO, or a business owner, is more important, powerful, or worthy than we are, but in God’s eyes there are none better than the lowest employees in a company. If those in power were to see themselves for who they are they just might find that they are dressed up vagrants who have fallen victim to a misdirected sense of their self-worth. If these men and women are not doing God’s will, then they are doing nothing that will last more than the few years they are in those positions, or alive. So, each of us should make our lives here count... we should answer God’s desire for us as He calls and directs us to do His will, and if we do this we will be amazed and find ourselves immersed in His mercy. grace, and His presence forevermore.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for showing me what in my life is important in your eyes. Thank you for placing me exactly where you would have me be so that I might serve your will perfectly. If you had spoken to me and said “I will make you wealthy and powerful” I know that it would have been for your purposes and not my own glory. As it is, you have chosen a job and career for me that is exactly what you would have me do, and in my case this has had a greater impact in heaven than the goal I originally set for myself. I thank you Holy Father for the lives I have served and touched each day, and the roads I have made straight for you. Help me to continue serving you with each breath I take and bless me with those gifts of the spirit that are necessary for me to do your will to its fullest. Let me judge my life not by whether I have done my best, but whether I have done yours. Praised be your name Holy Father for you are great and good in all things as you guide me to serve you daily. Whether you dress me in rags or clothe me in fine linen, and whether you lead me in large or small endeavors, I will obey you and seek to bring honor and glory to your name in all I do.
Amen!
Rich Forbes