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Pastor's Blog April 16, 2020
"Consecration II"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
My friends, Christ is risen! I pointed out last week that Ellen constantly focuses on what we need and what God supplies. This week we will look closely at what Ellen tells us we need to give up in the course of being consecrated to God.
In "Steps to Christ," Ellen constantly maintains we need to give up everything to God. For those who may think giving up everything to God is too much of a burden, Ellen reminds us that God has given us all things in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross; therefore, it isn't simply good that we give God everything in return, it is also right and proper for us to give all we have to the Source of all (29)! And for those who worry about what it means to give everything to God, Ellen clarifies: "But what do we give up, when we give up all? A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His matchless love" (29). WOW! Ellen is repeating the same theme she highlighted last week: our success at living a holy life will not come from our own effort or us being in control, but by God being in the driver's seat - in short, by God making all the decisions and taking all the action to transform us.
What we are called to do is stop being in control and recognize that God is the only one who can effect this change in us. "The true, joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within" (30). And that can only happen when our self is given up to God (29-30). As we all know, however, that is the difficult part: how do you give up all, your very self, to God? "When Christ dwells in the heart," states Ellen, "the soul will be so filled with His love, with the joy of communion with Him, that it will cleave to Him; and in the contemplation of Him, self will be forgotten" (28).
When we focus on our own efforts to obey God, try to exert self-control in order to "be" Christians, concentrate on how much energy we are expending in attempts to live godly lives, or get frustrated with our growth in righteousness and overcoming sin, we are focusing on ourselves instead of giving ourselves to Jesus.
Friends, focus on getting to know Jesus more and losing sight of yourselves in him. Let us leave the work of our consecration to Jesus, the one who perfects our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and sanctifies us to God (1 Corinthians 1:30).
(*) Steps to Christ 1977 edition; Chapter 5, “Consecration”
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
