Tag: feature

By Alfred Bouter

If we would add together the number of times “disciple” and “learn” (learn as a disciple) occur in the New Testament, we would find them almost 300 times – a vast topic, for sure. In the following pages we will look at some of the challenges and blessings of walking as a disciple of the Lord.

While giving instructions to the Twelve, the Lord Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master” (Mt. 10:24-25 NKJV). In this statement Christ emphasized the relationship between Him and His followers and showed the need of their formation, without which it would be impossible to send them out as His representatives. He compared it with the bond between a teacher and his students and a master and his servants. By the time He gave those instructions the Lord had called several young men to be with Him and follow Him, so at a later time He might send them out as His representatives (Mk. 3:14).

Even though the disciples the Lord had called were different from each other and of various backgrounds, just as are all believers, they had certain things in common:

• All were called by Christ and had responded to His call; 
• They left all¹ in order to be with Him and follow Him, and
• They kept learning from Him.

These things were necessary before the Lord could send them out on a specific mission which He gave them, as detailed in Matthew 10 (which we will see later). Similarly the Lord, who is now at God’s right hand in heaven, is training the believers to equip them for special tasks He has given. When sent out by the Lord they need to constantly rely on Him, being then able to represent the Master in a way that pleases Him.

Nathanael Meets Jesus – A Pattern For Disciples 
Let’s briefly look at the relationship with the Master, as illustrated in Nathanael (Jn. 1:45-50).

The disciple Philip told him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (v.45); and he invited Nathanael to “come and see” the Messiah. Despite his initial objections, Nathanael accepted the invitation. When he met the Lord Jesus, this One who knows the heart (Acts 1:24) said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” (Jn. 1:47). When meditating under the fig tree (v.48), Nathanael must have been occupied with the question of the Messiah and of his own condition. The Lord knew all this and had been working in him through the Holy Spirit.

Scripture links the fig tree with practical righteousness; and while meditating under this tree Nathanael had come to judge himself in God’s light. Therefore, Jesus the Messiah could say to him those special words (v.47). As a true Israelite, Nathanael had learned lessons similar to his forefather Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel (Gen. 32:28). Now Nathanael recognized Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of God and the King of Israel (Jn. 1:49). He became His disciple and was further instructed by the Lord (vv.50-51). So we see that a disciple is a learner, taught by the Lord and who follows Him according to His instructions. 

Calling, Formation, Obedience, Love 
Christ’s calling of disciples is seen with Peter and Andrew, John and James (Mk. 1:16-20), and Levi – who was called Matthew (Mt. 9:9). But in Nathanael we see “the other side of the coin”: the inward preparation needed to respond to the call. The responses are different according to each one’s character but they have some elements in common, namely obedience to and love for the Master. In a general way the Lord summarized the calling and the response with these words: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:28-29). Applying this for today, we say:

• We are attracted by Him,
• We come to Him,
• We follow Him,
• We learn from Him, and
• We obey and love Him.

At the same time He forms, goes with, leads and protects us even in the midst of opposition and difficulties. The disciple is also a servant (literally bond-slave), and these two aspects cannot be separated.

Finally, the one who serves and follows the Master will be rewarded and honored, not only by the Master but also by the Father (Jn. 12:26). It is very special to the Father to have children in this world who are followers of His beloved Son – the One who was and still is rejected in and by this world. 

The Instructions For The Disciples’ Mission – Many Object Lessons For Today 
The twelve disciples sent out by the Lord after their initial formation received many specific instructions in view of their mission. Today, the immediate context is not the same, yet we can draw many lessons from these instructions by learning from the seven directives:²

1. The Twelve were sent only to the house of Israel, especially to the lost sheep among the nation (Mt. 10:5-6,38) – just as the Lord was sent (9:13,35-36). The nation was occupied, not only by Rome, but by Beelzebub [prince of demons] as well (12:22-45). Today, the period of grace, God’s message is to the Jews first (Rom. 1:16), but it also goes out to all people (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:47).
2. The Twelve were to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven had drawn near (Mt. 10:7; compare 3:2, 4:17). This announcement implied the need for repentance (Mt. 4:17; Mk. 6:12) because of Israel’s failure. But morally this message applies to all “for all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). Initially John the Baptist, while introducing the King, emphasized the need of repentance. This complete U-turn, with inward sorrow for sin, was needed then as it is today; and it will also be needed after the rapture of the Church when the message of the coming Kingdom will again be proclaimed.
3. The Lord empowered His disciples to perform signs to accompany their words. These acts of power were fourfold: to (1) heal sick ones; (2) cleanse lepers; (3) raise dead individuals; and (4) cast out demons. These miracles were signs of the age to come and of Messiah’s reign in glory. Though postponed because of the King’s rejection, these signs will be given again (Heb. 6:5). However, during the period of grace in which we live, even though sometimes physical healing occurs, there is a particular emphasis on the moral transformation (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Such transformed lives demonstrate the power of the King, even though He is absent from this scene.
4. The disciples had received their gifts freely and, therefore, they must give freely. They would wear a girdle for service (a belt, sometimes also used to carry money), but it was to be a service without commercialism or consumerism [business terms that relate to exploiting people for personal profit] – two things which happen when mixing God’s Word with man’s riches. 
5. No special provisions need to be made. Trusting the Lord who provides (Lk. 22:35), the disciples must simply go out as they are, without taking extra things. This is similar to Israel in the desert when the Lord was taking care of all their needs, whereas after arriving in the Promised Land they had to do everything themselves in faith with the Lord’s help. So it is for disciples sent out today: rely on the Master and, on the other hand, make the necessary provisions (Lk. 22:36) in order to go out as His disciples, representing Him in a world that is opposed to Him. These two verses, Luke 22:35-36, present two sides of discipleship. 
6. The instructions the Lord gave in Matthew 10:11-13 relate to a worthy reception of the messengers. A positive reception would bring peace (blessing) to the house.
7. The Lord foresaw a general rejection (10:13-15) and described its consequences. The greater the light, the more responsibility – where much was received (Israel and the Church), much will be demanded. Stephen, addressing the leaders who had rejected the message of grace, outlined the dire consequences of their hardening and rejection (Acts 7). These things are described for our learning on whom the ends of the age have come (1 Cor. 10:11-12). 

The Disciples’ Preparations In View Of Persecution 
In view of opposition and persecution, the Lord prepared His disciples and us also by giving specific instructions for the special needs that would arise.

1. In the setting, disciples are as sheep among wolves – vulnerable but relying on the Master who is with them in dangerous situations. In such cases disciples need to be prudent (wise as serpents), and marked by purity, sincerity and innocence (as harmless doves).
2. “Beware!”, “Take heed!” and “Pay careful attention!” are appeals repeated five times in Matthew (6:1, 7:15, 10:17, 16:6,11). Persecution would come from religious as well as political or civil authorities, but help would be given by the Holy Spirit (10:17-20). Similarly, the apostle Paul warned of dangers coming from outside and inside the Church (Acts 20:28). 
3. Persecution must be “for My name’s sake” and not because of our own failures. Such persecution will take place even inside the family circle (Mt. 10:21-22), often in the most aggressive and difficult forms. Yet, disciples need to “keep going” – enduring to the end. This means Christians must continue even when facing dreadful opposition, now and until the rapture. In a prophetic sense, after the rapture endurance will be needed when disciples of that day will have to keep going on throughout severe persecution, until the coming of the King in judgment and glory. Notice also that there is a progression in the severity of the rejection: (1) opposition and dangers (10:16), (2) persecution (vv.17-20) and (3) delivering up to death by relatives (vv.21-22). 
4. The work must to go on despite opposition and persecution (v.23). The book of Acts and the Epistles give many examples of how the testimony continued.³ May we take courage! 

The Lord’s Seven Words Of Encouragement For Disciples

1. The disciple is identified with the Master/Teacher, who is Lord (vv.24-25). He or she learns from Him, being formed and fed by Him while serving Him. 
2. The message cannot be kept hidden. It must be spread despite resistance (vv.26-27). 
3. They can kill the body but not the soul (v.28). There is a three-fold challenge and encouragement, “Do not fear” and “Don’t be afraid” (vv.26,28,31). 
4. The Father’s care is promised (v.29). This is similar to the promise that the Lord will be with the disciples (28:20), His presence with the sheep among wolves (10:16), the Holy Spirit in and through them (v.20) and the Father that is for them (vv.29-32). 
5. The Lord Himself is the great Advocate with the Father in heaven (see 1 John 2:1), and on earth the Holy Spirit is in them (Mt. 10:20). Both help the disciples in their testimony (consider vv.31-32). 
6. The Prince of Peace sends a sword (spiritually), subduing the enemy and giving victory (morally, not necessarily physically) to those who love Him above all else (vv.34-39). To “take up the cross” because of love for Him may imply that we have to go through this world expecting to be executed for His name’s sake. This would not be for selfish interests – whether for one’s self or group. 
7. The chain of command implies a chain of blessing (vv.40-42). Those who receive the disciple receive the Master, who is the Sender, and therefore the receiver(s) will be blessed.

Brief Summary Of Qualities And Functions Needed For Disciples 
The disciples, called from various backgrounds to be sent out by the Lord while He is rejected, must have many qualities and abilities to function in different roles as outlined in Matthew 10. This applies to all believers since Christ calls them from various spheres of life to function as: 

1. Apostles or sent ones⁴ (vv.1,5), or messengers – the Lord Himself also was sent (v.40); 
2. Workmen or laborers (v.10) – workers God can approve (2 Tim. 2:15); 
3. Sheep, reaching out to the lost sheep (v. 6) among wolves, in need of prudence (like serpents) and of purity (as doves) (v.16); 
4. Disciples, learners and followers (v.24); 
5. Bondmen, bond-servants or slaves (v.24); 
6. Members of Messiah’s household (v.25), in contrast to those who belonged to the house of Israel, now occupied by the enemy (Beelzebul, lord of the dwelling (NASB), Mt. 12:43-45); 
7. Prophets, the Master’s spokes-persons (v. 41) anticipating His rule in glory;
8. Righteous ones representing the righteous King (v.41) and walking in practical righteousness; 
9. Little ones representing the One who humbled Himself (v.42) as the little Child (18:2-4). 

In conclusion, we may be reminded of a verse from a hymn writer of old, Samuel Tomkins (1841-1926):

We worship at Thy Holy feet, And long to serve Thee still; Take Thou our heart, our lips, our lives, And mould them to Thy will.

END NOTES 
1. This does not mean that they neglected their wives and families, but that they learned to give the Master His rightful place in their lives. 
2. For the moral qualifications needed for disciples, see Matthew 5:2-13. 
3. Understand the differences between (1) a literal meaning partly fulfilled then and partly afterwards in church history, (2) the prophetic or future fulfillment, before the Lord’s return in glory; (3) the moral and spiritual application for the Church period; and (4) practical lessons, personally or collectively, today. 
4. Understand the distinction between official authority they had received, then, accompanied by God-given signs and wonders, and moral authority by being doers of the Word as applies to believers today.

By Colin Salter

Some years ago my wife and I hosted a discipleship class¹ using an acrostic: 

D	iscipleship
I	nvolves
S	ubmission to
C	hrist
I	n
P	ractical
L	iving
E	veryday.

• Disciples are followers of someone or something. 
• Famous people in our world have thousands of followers on social networking sites. 
• Followers find out as much as they can about their heroes. They dress like them, listen to them and begin to think like them.

The Very First Followers Of Christ 
Our Savior started His life’s work by calling people to become His followers (Mt. 4:18-22, 9:9-13). These individuals left what they were doing and followed Him. What the disciples did can be seen by reading the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We then can see that they fulfilled the dictionary (Macmillian School Dictionary) definition of a disciple:

1. They paid attention to what the Lord Jesus was doing.
2. They did what He commanded or advised them to do.
3. They went along in the same direction as He did.
4. They were interested in His progress.
5. They began to really understand what He was saying.
6. They did the same as He was doing.
7. They showed in their own lives the truth of His life.

R. C. Sproul defines Christian disciples as “those who are committed to follow Jesus as their Master” (The Gospel Of God). Commitment tells of a cost, as one serving his master.

Followers Have To Chose 
Christian men and women who want to be genuine disciples have to make many decisions every day. They are constantly called to choose between their way of living and God’s way. We are faced with the choice: remain like the world or become more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

For all believers there is a wrong way and a right way to live. This is the spiritual struggle into which true Christians are born again. It begins in our minds – with our thoughts. These then influence our words and actions.

Let’s read Romans 12:1-2 (NIV, italics mine): “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Having given the theology of the gospel in Romans 1-11, Paul makes immediate application in how to live for Jesus Christ – with Him as our Lord. The Old Testament sacrificial system of the tabernacle and temple was replaced by the New Testament command (and yes, it is a command – it is not optional) to “put ourselves alive on the altar. To be a Christian means to live a life of sacrifice, a life of presentation, making a gift of ourselves to God.”² We do not sacrifice to make ourselves Christians, but because we are Christians we sacrifice ourselves.

Followers Change 
Being a true disciple, this kind of sacrifice will affect every part of my life. My family life will be patterned on God’s Word whether as a loyal and loving husband, a spiritual and submissive wife, or an honoring and obedient child. My work life will reflect God’s values: not stealing time or materials, breaking business confidences or telling lies. My ethics will be those the Lord Jesus Christ would have in my situation. I decide to care for my friends and neighbors, putting their welfare even above my own and meeting their needs as I am able. I ensure that my Christian service will mirror my Lord. I will sacrifice myself using my skills, health and time for the spreading of the gospel by word and deed. The way I use my money and other resources God has loaned me will honor Him and His ways – thus being totally different than the non-Christian people around me.

A new believer who wants to know God’s will for his life will find it by prayerfully reading and studying the Word of God. This will help him to start thinking like God, and his new mind will develop new values. In everyday life these values will soon make him stand out from the crowd. By what he does he will be known to be a follower of Jesus Christ. When a man knows what God loves and hates it is quite easy for him to choose what to do – one’s choices following the pattern of His thoughts which are now becoming his own!

Followers Cultivate 
Figuratively, we who are Christian disciples live near the foot of the cross of our Lord Jesus. We learn to cross out the wrong and to cultivate the right in our lives. Yes, we do make mistakes. But we learn from them and seek to avoid them in the future.

Using definitions from our dictionary we see that “cultivate,” to prepare ground for growing crops, is an important word for Christian disciples. Through the Holy Spirit we prepare ourselves to produce spiritual fruit. Digging, weeding, feeding and protecting are all involved. A cultivated person is well educated and knows how to behave politely. We might say that a cultivated Christian lives a style of life that radiates the holiness, grace and love of Jesus Christ to everyone with whom he or she has contact. As in gardening or farming, preparation is the key to producing a good crop.

The Follower’s Cost 
Our Lord told His first disciples that following Him would not be easy. Through them He likewise warned us: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it” (Lk. 9:23-24). Jesus Himself counted the cost and lived every day in God’s honor. The cross on which He was executed was part of following His Father’s will, and in Gethsemane He chose crucifixion rather than release (Lk. 22:42-44). Giving honor and obedience were seen throughout His life – even as a child of 12 years (Lk. 2:49; Mt. 3:17, 17:5; Jn. 15:10). Notice that in Luke 9:23 the decision to follow Jesus had to be made at least once every 24 hours.

The Followers “L”In many countries, people learning to drive have to have a red letter “L” attached to their motorbikes or cars.  Here are seven “L’s” of the first disciples:  • Let go of their old ways in life, • Lived with Jesus Christ, the traveling teacher, • Learned from Him as He explained Scripture (the Old Testament) to them, • Listened to Him, • Looked at Him, • Looked more and more like Him as time went by, and • Loved God with their heart, soul, mind and strength, and their neighbors likewise (Mk. 12:30-31).

Followers Speak Without Words 
When Christians live as followers all day, every day, those around will take notice. Could it be that some do not follow Christ now because we do not follow Christ closely enough? True Christian discipleship speaks every language in the world and no one is beyond the reach of believers who live like the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:12, 2:1-2; 1 Jn. 2:6, 3:1-3).

END NOTES 
1. These studies became my first book, Raising The Standard, at www.colinsalter.net. 
2. Debbie Dodd, Dictionary of Theological Terms In Simplified English (Evangelism and Missions Information Service, Wheaton IL ) 2003, p. 48.

By Hank Blok

Honestly ask yourself this question, “Am I a real disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?” There are a number of motives for being His disciple, and the signs of a sincere devotee will be very different from the individuals with ambitions that lead ultimately to a disappointed soul. Are you enjoying walking with the Lord now, or are you simply facing disappointment? 

Right Motives
Some important qualities will be seen in a true follower having correct incentives:

1. There will be an attraction to Him as the One who first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19).
2. There will be a continuance in His fellowship, driven by the fact that the Lord Jesus Himself is precious to us individually (1 Pet. 2:7).
3. There will be a following of His teachings and commandments because of our love for Him (Jn. 14:15) and because we have believed that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn. 14:6).
4. There will be, when tempted to forsake Him and follow something or someone else, a realization that we have an anchor: “To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (see John 6:66-68 KJV).

These are the characteristics of a genuine disciple, a loving follower of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Wrong Motives 
There are many wrong motives for acting the “Christian” way. A person may be following Jesus Christ* for what they think they can get: a special family (the family of God), a “prestigious” job (such as a position within the local church), improved health or gaining wealth. These improper motives, even evident in the days of the Lord, have formed false disciples throughout Church history. Many who followed Jesus Christ wanted to make Him king – not because of His preciousness, but for what they thought they could get from Him (see John 2:23-25, 6:14-15).

Consider Judas Iscariot. What was his motive for following the Master? Was it money? He was a thief who held the moneybag and helped himself to what was inside (Jn. 12:6). Or was it power and popularity that he sought? Judas, after all, was numbered among the Lord’s twelve disciples who were sent forth to preach, heal sicknesses and cast out demons (Mk. 3:14-15). Whatever his motives, we can certainly say that Judas was not a true disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who knows the heart made a condemning statement about this imposter: “But there are some of you that believe not.” Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who it was that would betray Him (Jn. 6:64).

One of the Twelve and others in the early church professed that they knew God, but in their works they denied Him – “being abominable [detestable], and disobedient, and unto every good work, reprobate [worthless]” (Ti. 1:16). Is it any different today? Of course not! There are “Christians” who think they are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ but their obvious intentions suggest otherwise.

Consider those who follow the “prosperity gospel” – a “believe it/receive it” theology. Such a message must be feared as this so-called gospel is really only a means to an end: to gain the blessings of health and material goods. This teaching prevents the person from making Him Lord and from being the object of one’s affections as He becomes simply the means of, or way to, prosperity. Being a disciple of this philosophy may have its perceived rewards today even as it did in the days of the Exodus, as noted in Psalm 106:14-15: Then the Israelites “lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert, and He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Anyone following the person and teaching of Christ for what he can “get out of it” is certainly not a true disciple; he is spiritually famished.

There are other ways someone may follow in the Christian pathway and not be a true disciple of the Lord Jesus. Here are a few possible motives out of many:

• It is done to please parents, friends or associates.
• It has become a habit.
• It provides a social network and sense of belonging.
• It offers some prestige.

A Serious Consideration 
Whatever one’s purpose may be in following Christ, if it is not out of a pure attraction to the person, work and teaching of the Lord Jesus, it is a false motivation. That man or woman, boy or girl is not a true disciple.

The Lord Jesus set out a number of requirements for a genuine and satisfying discipleship:

1. “If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:26). To understand this statement the meaning of the Greek word translated “hate” must be examined. The original Greek word is miseo, meaning “to love less” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). Therefore, our Lord is saying that anyone following Him, making a commitment to the Christian way of life, must love Him more than family and friends, and even life itself. Natural ties should not hinder or affect absolute devotion to our Savior and Lord.
2. “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple” (v.27). It may not be an easy matter in this world to follow the rejected Christ, but it is well worth it to have Him as our soul’s delight. All other things, including hardship and material loss, can then be endured for His glory.
3. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple” (v.33). The Lord Jesus deserves, and should have, the preeminent place in our hearts. Material wealth can be a great obstacle to an undivided motive (see Matthew 19:16-23). 
4. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). Continuance is the sign of a true disciple. Where this is not seen in one’s life, that person’s salvation may even be questioned – “Was it an actual conversion or simply an empty profession?” It must be noted, however, that a true Christian cannot lose their salvation (Jn. 10:28-30; Rom. 8:28-39).

But how can people tell if someone is a believer? The Bible says that they judge us by our fruit (Mt. 7:15-23). Where there is no fruit in a person’s life, that individual must examine himself or herself in humble confession, either toward restored discipleship or to salvation through repentance and receiving Christ Jesus as Lord.

A Heart Check 
Let us take a moment to examine ourselves, checking our motives for being a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Do we have:

• A real attachment to the person of our Lord and Savior for who He is in Himself? This would be the number one reason for any and all of the following actions.
• A constant communion with Him in prayer, along with personal and group Bible study?
• A desire, willingness and courage to do His will?
• A seeking of direction from above, committing each day and action to Him? Much of the direction for happy Christian living will be found from our daily times of prayer and Bible study.
• A manner of life that brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ? This will be an automatic result when occupied in doing the other items listed above through His power.

Oh, might we be genuine devotees indeed!

A Personal Experience 
When I was a young child I came to the Savior for what I could get from Him. He was my “fire escape from hell”! At that time He became my Savior, but I did not become a conscientious disciple until some time later. Thankfully, through the years He has become precious to me. I now know that I love Him and seek to follow Him for who He is. May the Lord Jesus Himself and all He has done continually be my reason to love Him. My desire is that He would be the attraction of your heart as well – being a sincere disciple of the “altogether lovely” One (Song 5:16). He, Himself, will then be the motive to observe His teachings and follow in the whole doctrine of the Christ as recorded throughout the Scriptures. 

A final encouragement for a disciple of the Lord Jesus comes directly from the Word of God. The Bible speaks to each of us individually when it says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Ps. 37:4). Don’t be surprised that when we truly delight in Him He will give us the gift of Himself, and He – the Lord Jesus Christ – will be that delight of our hearts. He is the greatest reward of genuine discipleship (Gen. 15:1)!

ENDNOTE 
* The title “Lord Jesus Christ” is not used here, as a false disciple has not made Him “Lord” in their hearts.

By Alfred Bouter

God is King: the true and living God and the eternal King (Jer. 10:10). It was God’s plan to put everything under the control of a man – ultimately, this will be Christ (Eph. 1:10). When God created all things He saw that they were “very good” (Gen. 1:31 NASB). God put Adam in charge of everything (2:19) as His representative, or king if you will. Genesis 3 records how the innocent Adam and Eve failed and thus the whole human race fell away from God (Rom. 5:12). God’s plan to put everything under the control of a man was postponed but not cancelled.

To realize His plans, in the fullness of time God sent His Son. Though born of a woman (the woman’s seed, Gen. 3:15) and through her a descendant of Adam (Lk. 3:38), in Him was no sin. He came to His own (Israel) and was born under the Law (Gal. 4:4), but they rejected Him (Jn. 1:10). Working together with the nations, they had Him crucified (Acts 2:23). God, however, raised His Son from the dead and exalted Him, giving Him a place of honor at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Acts 2:34,36; Heb. 1:3). Today Christ is crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:9) and soon, in “that day,” God will introduce Him in majestic splendor (2 Th. 1:10). In the meantime He has delegated His interests into the hands of His servants. 

Now it gets complicated because these servants, who confess to belong to Him, have failed and still fail. Some of them are not even born again, being God’s servants in name only – professing Him through baptism or other means without a real change of heart. The Lord had foreseen this development and announced it to His disciples (Mt. 24:43-51; Lk. 19:11-27), and the apostles elaborated on this teaching (Acts 20:29; 1 Jn. 4:1-3; 2 Pet. 2:2).

During the period of grace in which we live, a mixed condition and confusion exists. But God is pleased to have His interests taken care of by disciples, representing their Lord. He helps them as they acknowledge being a failing people – but with the desire to honor the rejected King in the same world that rejected Him. Such disciples need to put the Lord before the public. Even though He is physically absent from this scene, through His Spirit He is present with them: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts” (1 Pet. 3:15). In other words, by giving Christ His rightful place in their hearts He may have full control – because from the heart are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23) – and believers can be His witnesses in a world which is not (yet) visibly under His control. Here our topic, “The kingdom of God in its significance today,” combines with true discipleship. In other words, genuine disciples are needed to work out in actual practice what the kingdom of God really means.

The Book Of Acts Provides Further Help 
When giving His answer the Lord Jesus did not say that the question posed by His disciples as to whether He would restore the kingdom to Israel was irrelevant. Instead, He explained to them what they needed to do while He would be absent (Acts 1:6-8) and spoke with them for forty days about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (v.3). The Lord Jesus, the King, would be absent and His disciples – servants, representatives and witnesses – needed much teaching about what to do and how to do it. Led by God’s Spirit, the New Testament writers elaborated on these instructions in their writings. Therefore we have many Scriptures which address the topic of what to do for the honor of the King while He is absent from this world and at God’s right hand. 

Acts contains seven key verses about the kingdom of God and most of them, except for chapter 14:22 which refers to the future though linked with our present walk, are connected to our topic of the kingdom of God in its present significance. Generally speaking, a close connection exists between our role and actions in the kingdom of God today and our position in the kingdom’s future manifestation [presence or appearance]. The Lord explained it in some of His parables and it was further taught in the Epistles. 

The absent King’s interests are linked to the good news, the gospel. We read that as Philip the evangelist “preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized” (8:12 NKJV). In baptism these new disciples acknowledged the rights of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

In addition to these passages just mentioned in Acts (1:3, 8:12, 14:22), we find the four others about the kingdom of God – all associated with the apostle Paul:

1. “He went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God” (19:8). This was a Jewish setting. Israel had rejected the Messiah and God’s claims through Him while He was with them on earth and when He spoke to them from heaven. Jewish people, including those living elsewhere in the world, needed to be taught to acknowledge Him and to submit to His interests. Saul of Tarsus had learned to do so and many other Jewish people before and after him (see Romans 1:16).
2. “I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more” (20:25). Here the setting is the assembly (church) at Ephesus, composed of men and women who were called out from among Jews and Gentiles. From Ephesus sometime before this speech, Paul had written to the believers at Corinth, “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God” (1 Cor. 10:32). Thus the believers called out from among Jews and Gentiles form a new testimony linked to the kingdom of God.
3. “He explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening” (28:23). The setting is a prison in Rome. Paul invited the Jewish leaders in Rome because, being in prison, he was not able to visit them as he would otherwise have done. He explained how the Scriptures relate to Jesus the Messiah and how each one is responsible before God to submit to His claims, even though the leaders at Jerusalem had rejected them.
4. “Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (28:31). “Preaching” in this verse, meaning “proclaiming,” refers to a public witness testifying about God’s rights – as Paul was doing. Disciples today should follow Paul’s example. Furthermore, the kingdom of God centers on Christ, who is the King and whom believers own as Lord in faith and obedience. Paul had written some years earlier, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9 NASB).

The Book of Acts concludes with the important verse quoted at the beginning of the fourth point and it shows that no one can stop the work of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is now seated at God’s right hand. This verse implies a challenge: The things concerning His blessed person and the kingdom of God in its present meaning are to be proclaimed and taught on an ongoing basis, while those who do this place their trust in the Lord.

The Kingdom Of God Today And Its Link With The Future 
The future reign of Christ will be a rule marked by enforcement, when righteousness will publicly reign and every knee will bow before Him who will be acknowledged by “the name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9-10). In the eternal state His rule will be marked by harmony and unity, when righteousness will dwell and enforcement will no longer be needed (2 Pet. 3:13).

However, the period of grace in which we live is marked by willing hearts who choose to submit to Christ’s claims because of love for Him – righteousness is reigning in grace (Rom. 5:21). On our side an ongoing exercise and a constantly renewed commitment to Him is needed, as we find ourselves in a world opposed to God and Christ and because we have the flesh (the sinful nature) still in us. Therefore, we need to “endure” and keep going while carrying a burden. A close link exists between this exercise and our future place in glory with the King: “If we endure, we shall also reign* with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Tim. 2:12 NKJV). 

Among differences of opinion or convictions, and while surrounded by “strong” or “weak” believers, we need to remind ourselves of Paul’s teaching that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). When God’s rights are maintained – not only in theory but also in practice, “for the kingdom of God is not in word only but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20) – peace and harmony will be enjoyed. The Holy Spirit will add joy as these things are being worked out under His control or sway. Even though we are in a wicked world, this control by the Holy Spirit is realized because God “has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). How precious it must be for our God and Father to have sons who are committed to His interests and those of His beloved Son during a time and in a world where His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is still rejected. This must be special to our Lord Jesus, who is the King! That is why several Scriptures show the impossibility of mixing Christ’s interests with what belongs to this world. 

The Challenge Continues 
It is impossible to have entrance into His kingdom now or in the future while being under the control of this world, which is under Satan’s rule – “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4). “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Paul then says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (v.11). We see the moral power of God’s kingdom and the work of the Holy Spirit operating in the name of the Lord Jesus (the King), though still rejected in this world. The two systems – this present evil age and the world to come under Christ’s rule – cannot go together, as Paul confirmed: 

• “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Cor. 15:50).
• “Envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21).
• “This you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:5).

In Closing 
Do we see the apostle Paul as our spiritual father? We should (1 Cor. 11:1) as then we will learn from him just as the young believers at Thessalonica did. He wrote to them, “How we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Th. 2:11-12).

As we are waiting for its manifestation in glory, we identify with Paul’s desire to “be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer” (2 Th. 1:5). The suffering is because of the fact that we identify with our Lord who is rejected in this world, and in so doing we prepare for the future aspect of His kingdom when He will reign in glory and the believers with Him. Praise God! GT

ENDNOTE 
*The verb reign is literally, “to reign as kings together.”

The Kingdom Of God
The kingdom of God is presented in three distinctive aspects that all run on together today. The first embraces only those who are born of water and of the Spirit, as seen in John 3:3-6. The second embraces all who profess Christ as Lord, as seen in Matthew 13:24-50, while the third embraces the whole universe – heaven and earth, as seen in Daniel 2 and 4. 

A place where these three circles are clearly seen is in Ephesians 4:5-6. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling” (KJV) is connected with the first circle in line with John 3. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” associates with the second circle found in Matthew 13. “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” is the third circle as seen in Daniel 2 and 4. It has often been pointed out that only believers are in all three circles. Lifeless professors are in circles two and three; while the rest, outside of professed Christianity, come only under the rule of God as the sovereign ruler of the universe.

—George Davison, Precious Things (adapted).

By Milton P. Jamieson

A kingdom is a territory, realm, dominion, country or sphere over which a king or a sovereign exercises rule and authority. The kingdom of God is one that is all-encompassing, having various aspects such as the “kingdom of heaven,” the “kingdom of the Son” and the “kingdom of the Father.” In this short paper my desire is to look at the kingdom of God and its significance for today as I understand it from Holy Scripture.

God’s Eternal Authority 
Scripture is full of references testifying that God is the king and governor of the whole world:

• “The LORD is King for ever and ever” (Ps. 10:16 KJV).
• “For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth” (Ps. 74:12).
• “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (Ps. 95:3).

In addition to showing that God is king, these verses and many more show that the world is His kingdom. Therefore, the kingdom of God is universal in its scope (see illustration on left).

Past To Present 
From time to time God delegated the kingdom of the earth into the hands of men. He placed it first in the hands of Adam and Eve – and we know how that ended in utter failure (Gen. 1:28, 3:1-13). He gave to Noah the kingdom, or the government, of the world but he also failed and became unable even to govern himself for he was found drunk and uncovered in his tent (Gen. 9:1-7,20-23).

God then ruled over Israel as their king for many years, using several men as His representatives or prime ministers – such as Moses, Joshua and the judges. In speaking of Israel, Balaam said, “The shout of a king is among them” (Num. 23:21). Gideon understood very well that the LORD was their king so he flatly rejected the offer to rule over Israel, saying, “the LORD shall rule over you” (Jud. 8:22-23). This went on until Israel rebelled against the LORD, wanting a man to be king over them instead: “But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said; Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:6-7).

God gave them a man after their own heart in the person of Saul. He turned out to be a colossal failure. Afterward, God removed him and set David, a man after His own heart, upon the throne as king and shepherd over His people Israel. David had full understanding that the kingdom was God’s – just listen what he has to say about the kingdom: “He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel” (1 Chr. 28:5). “Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him” (1 Chr. 29:23).

God is the king over all the earth. Whether men submit to His rule or rebel, it does not change the fact that He is king forever: “… to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest [lowest] of men” (Dan. 4:17).

Present To Future 
The time will come when “the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom [the earth] all things that offend, and them which do iniquity” (Mt. 13:41). Wickedness and wicked persons will be cleaned out of His kingdom and He will take His great power and reign for 1,000 years. But for the present He is allowing man to have his day, which will come to its peak in the Man of Sin – the Son of Perdition, the Antichrist. 

When we read the Gospels and the Epistles we see that the expressions “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are sometimes interchangeable, but there are differences. The kingdom of God is going on now in the hearts and lives of men who are subject to Him. The kingdom of heaven is also going on, but in a mystery for the king is absent. Therefore today, Christendom [professing Christianity] is the kingdom of heaven in a mystery and is likened to a field with wheat and tares, a dragnet in the sea that encloses all kinds good and bad, and the ten virgins with five wise and five foolish (see Mt. 13 and 25). Within this mixture of wheat and tares, good and bad, wise and foolish we have that which is true to God. They who are truly born again are the wheat, the good and the wise in these parables. They are truly the kingdom of God within this period of Christian profession.

The time will come when the kingdom of heaven will be set up in power and glory over the entire earth. During those 1,000 years Jesus Christ will reign over the earth as Son of Man. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp [cobra], and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ [viper’s] den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:6-9). After this the Son will hand over the kingdom to God and God will be all in all (See 1 Cor. 15:24-28).

Kingdom Character Today 
Now, apart from the fact that He is ruling in the kingdom of men, God is also ruling in the hearts and lives of men and women, boys and girls who have accepted and are subject to His Son. The character of the kingdom of God in the hearts and lives of believers is of a moral nature, for in the power of the Spirit the believer exhibits the moral features of the King, our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul listed some of these in Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” These are also listed in Galatians 5:22-23, among others, as the fruit of the Spirit. Being the moral features of Christ they should mark every child of the kingdom of God.

How To Be A Part 
There is only one way to enter this spiritual aspect of the kingdom and that is to be born into it. We were all born in the kingdom of darkness. But through sovereign grace we have been delivered from that kingdom and brought into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. This is through new birth – we must be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God! In John 3:3-7 the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that it is a divine necessity: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” It remains the same today – new birth is still a divine necessity to enter the kingdom of God.

Dear reader, I know that the moment I mention “born again” the first thing that comes to some people’s minds is water baptism. Baptism is not being born again, neither was the Lord telling Nicodemus to go and get baptized. Instead, He was telling Nicodemus that he needed the life of God in order to be a part of God’s kingdom. In John 1:13 we are told of those who are born again: they are “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” This is something in which man has no part; it is altogether a work of God. Just like when one is being born into the world, the child being born has absolutely nothing to do with what takes place. No effort from the child is required nor can the baby give any help to his or her mother.

A person is born again when he hears the gospel and believes it. The Word enters into the heart and by God’s great power He imparts new, eternal life to that believing one. This is how one is born again, becomes a child of God and heir of the kingdom of God (See James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).

For Believers Today 
What is expected of us, who are the children and true subjects of the kingdom today? The Bible says that we are to:

1. Exhibit the fruit of the Spirit – the moral features of Christ reproduced in our hearts by the Spirit of God. When the kingdom of heaven is set up over the earth the laws of the kingdom will also be such: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance …” (Gal. 5:22-23). One can see these features emerging as the Lord presented the principles of the kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5:1-7:29). We need not wait until the Millennium – these and other features of Christ should be seen in us right now!
2. Be loyal, faithful and true to Him in His absence, like Mephibosheth was toward David (2 Sam. 19:24).
3. Perform royal and priestly service: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). Fellow believers, you and I have the high honor to speak of the wonders, glories and beauties of the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ; and to serve Him with gladness as His messengers heralding the good news of God concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. To be good, kind and merciful, sharing our worldly goods and the King’s words in the gospel, teaching young and old, and showing to all the way into the kingdom of God are just a few of the many opportunities that we have to serve the King in His absence. 

Indeed, “Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (Mt. 6:13).

By Colin Salter

The United Kingdom, where I live, is a green land of rolling hills, agricultural grasslands and trees – richly fruitful and surrounded by seas. It has a population of 63 million of whom I am one! The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where my foster daughter lived, is a very hot and dry desert region, irrigated to blossom in places where water can be made to reach. It has a population of 29 million. Both kingdoms have their rulers’ palaces and historical succession within their royal family.

The Kingdom Of God Is Unlike Earthly Kingdoms 
When the Roman governor, Pilate, asked our Lord Jesus Christ, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Mt. 27:11; Mk. 15:2; Lk. 23:3; Jn. 18:33 NIV), our Savior replied, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn. 18:36). Since Jesus’ kingdom is not “of this world” in which we all live, it must be of somewhere else – of another world. It is different from the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia or any other human kingdom. Read the Lord’s full reply found only in John 18:36-37: “Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.’”Five Key Points

1. The Lord Jesus owns His kingdom: “My kingdom” and “You are right in saying I am a king.” The Prisoner, Jesus, was about to be executed, but He possessed His special kingdom.
2. His kingdom is clearly different: “not of this world” and “from another place.” It has no geographical boundaries but it does have a King and His subjects.
3. The kingdom is not to be physically fought over: “If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews.” Guns and bombs cannot defend or extend this kingdom.
4. The kingdom was the purpose of His incarnation: “… for this reason I was born, and for this I came into this world.” Our Lord Jesus came to bear witness to this special kingdom. He said it was “near” and urged all people to “repent” (Mt. 4:17) because discovering the kingdom would mean adopting a complete change of understanding.
5. The Lord Jesus’ kingdom is the true kingdom: “I came … to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me” (Jn. 18:37). Facts are facts even if people don’t want to believe them. The kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God are both real, but the kingdom of our Lord Jesus must always have the top place in the life of the believer.

Taking On The Focus Of Our Lord 
The third and fourth phrases of the Lord’s Prayer focus on this kingdom of God: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). Older translations conclude with “for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Mt. 6:13, a footnote in the NIV).

The Lord taught that we are to live in the character of His kingdom now: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well” (Mt. 6:33). Life for the Christian is much more than food and clothing, necessary as they are. Christians must pay more attention to our Lord’s kingdom than to anything else. To recognize the kingdom, promote it and witness of it must be top priorities for us, just as they were for Jesus Christ. 

“The Kingdom Of God” — What Does It Mean? 
The kingdom of God is the active rule of God over His creation. He establishes, redeems, judges and blesses. He works for and through His people, but all for His glory. Consider several points:

• God’s kingdom is partly a present reality on earth and a greater, future hope in heaven.
• God’s kingdom is a spiritual experience, available to anyone God calls into the body of Jesus Christ. This body is the true Church on earth, seen and known by its visible actions. 
• God’s kingdom embraces individual people rather than organized churches. They will have one clear understanding about Jesus Christ, His saving person and atoning work.
• God’s kingdom may be seen as subversive by human governments. They may feel threatened by watching the lives of true, pure and holy Christians. Daily Christlikeness has an influence!
• God’s kingdom includes Christian living that challenges and transforms local cultures by believers doing what God wants His people to do. This applies from the most remote tribal village to the most dangerous jail.

Where Does All This End? 
Eventually God will be seen to rule heaven and earth. John offers us a glimpse of this: “Grace and peace to you … from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:4-5). We whose sins have been dealt with by the blood of Jesus Christ, bought from every tribe, language, people and nation are “a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and … will reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10).

The majority of people today cannot choose the country where they live. Yet God gives everyone the opportunity to enter into His kingdom. Our Lord Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again … I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (Jn. 3:3-5).

Several Important Questions 
Here are a few vital questions I want to ask you.

1. Have you entered the kingdom of God? 
2. Are you born again? 
3. As a disciple, are you learning and able to discern God’s growing kingdom here and now? 
4. Are your actions telling others that you are of His kingdom – a Christian?

My passport says I am a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and it is valid for five more years. If God calls me home to heaven before then, I know from the inner witness of God the Holy Spirit that I will be welcomed into an “inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you [and me!] since the creation of the world” (Mt. 25:34). I sincerely pray I will see you there.

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;  
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.  
I surrender all, I surrender all;  
All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all. 

— Judson W. Van de Venter (1855-1939)

Judson W. Van De Venter was born into a Christian home in 1855 and at the age of 17 he accepted Christ as his Savior. After graduating from university with a degree in art, he became an art teacher in a high school. He was also an accomplished musician and could play some 13 different instruments as well as sing and compose music.

In his thirties Judson found himself facing a dilemma, and for almost five years he struggled over what to do. Should he abandon his teaching career and concentrate on evangelistic work? While involved in a church event in 1896 the Lord challenged him, and this young man yielded to the Lord’s will and gave up his secular employment. The experience caused him to write a devotional hymn that has found its way into many hymnbooks: “All To Jesus I Surrender.” The beautiful tune to which the hymn is sung was composed by Winfield S. Weeden. He loved the words of the hymn so much that after his death the three words “I surrender all” were engraved on his tombstone.

The experience of Judson W. Van De Venter is one that many others have had. A question has confronted the individual about what he or she should do. Something inescapable has had to be faced squarely – and it has not been easy. This is not unique to a select group. Rather, it is something that every true Christian should come to terms with. “Lord” is not a word to use glibly [thoughtlessly]; using it implies owning the authority of the one who is so addressed. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46 KJV). Similarly, it is easy to sing the moving words of Judson Van De Venter’s expressive hymn, when emotions are stirred, and not genuinely mean them. 

Of course this does not mean that the hymn is unsuitable and ought not to be used. The New Testament makes it plain that every child of God should be able to say, “I surrender all,” in truth and from the heart. Three examples and three exhortations make this fact self-evident.

Three Examples 
The finest and yet the most humbling example must be that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As He reached the climax of His earthly ministry, He entered into the darkness of Gethsemane one unforgettable night. Under the shadow of the olive trees and away from His beloved disciples, the Son of God knelt in prayer before His Father. Agony lay before Him: He, the Sinless One, was soon to be “made sin” in those three hours of impenetrable darkness on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). Now, before that time, His holy soul was “exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death,” as He “fell on His face” in prayer (Mt. 26:38-39). Yet, the request that the bitter cup might pass from Him was regulated by the words that followed, “Not My will, but Thine, be done” (Lk. 22:42). He fully submitted to the Father’s will.

How amazing this is! His love for us is beyond compare, yet it was also love and devotion to His Father that caused Him to pray like this. There was no other way in which guilty sinners could be saved, so He arose from prayer to face the enemies who had come to apprehend Him. His Father’s will was paramount. If His followers are to be like Him, the words “Not my will, but Thine, be done,” must be uttered by them too.

For the second example we can consider one of the most devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul. While being a hateful persecutor of Christ on a diabolical [devilish] mission to destroy the followers of the Lord, Saul of Tarsus (as he was then called) was blinded by a light brighter than the sun, which caused him to fall to the dust. Confronted by the Lord in all His glory on the road to Damascus, and realizing how wicked and helpless he was, Saul uttered those memorable words, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). It was truly a moment of crisis. For too long Saul had gone his own way and done what he thought was right. Challenged by the risen Christ, he had been humbled and stopped in his tracks. He was now a man who was genuinely ready to submit to the Lord himself.

A third example comes from the last book in the Bible. This time we are not looking at someone young and enthusiastic, but at one who was an aged follower of Christ. The apostle John had been banished by the Roman authorities to the island of Patmos for his loyalty to the cause of Christ. But although banished, John was not left alone. Having seen a vision of the Son of Man in all His glory – Jesus, whom he had known so well during His earthly ministry – John “fell at His feet as dead” (Rev. 1:17). What else could he do? Like Saul, he yielded to the heavenly Master and surrendered everything as he lay prostrate at His feet.

Both of these men, along with the Lord Jesus, teach us something important by example. Like the two apostles we must humble ourselves before the Lord of Glory, placing ourselves at His disposal and at His feet. By their attitude each of them was saying, in effect, “Not my will, but Thine, be done.” Not only do we find examples in Scripture; there are also exhortations encouraging us to surrender our lives to the Lord.

Three Exhortations 
Our first exhortation must come from the Lord Jesus Christ. He who demonstrated such submission to the purposes of God throughout His earthly life, and especially in Gethsemane, called men and women to surrender everything to Him. Jesus said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23). Following Christ is not an “easy-going” option that can occupy some secondary place in our lives. If we would follow Him, we must renounce all personal interests and actually deny ourselves. Our own desires must count for nothing! Taking up the cross daily implies a recognition that self is, in effect, dead. Following Christ means that He must lead the way and that we follow Him – going where He leads and not where we might choose to go. 

“That is rather demanding,” someone might object. Yes, it is! In fact, it demands everything! If we think too much is being asked of us, it only shows how far we have moved from the terms and character of New Testament Christianity. We ought not to question these things. Jesus Christ must not be considered simply as Savior; He is to be Lord of our lives. Later in Luke 9 we read of some individuals who expressed an interest in following Jesus but said, “Lord, I will follow Thee … but let me first …” (vv.57-61). If Christ is Lord of our lives we dare not say “me first.” The rich young ruler wanted to follow Christ but turned away with a sad expression because he loved his possessions more than he loved the Lord Jesus (Mk. 10:17-22). Yes, a disciple is called to surrender all to Christ.

The apostle Paul, who had been dramatically humbled to the dust on the Damascus road, never forgot that life-changing experience. A study of his life as recorded for us in Holy Scripture reveals one who was entirely sold out to Christ. He knew what the Lord expected of him. In his letter to the Romans Paul explained the amazing truth of the gospel and the impact that it should have upon our lives in practical terms. As our second exhortation, he wrote: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). 

God has shown tremendous mercy in saving us from the eternal punishment that we deserved. In view of what He has done for us through Christ, who gave Himself willingly to suffer on the cross, it is only “reasonable” that we should respond by yielding ourselves to Him. Those lives that have been redeemed are no longer ours! They belong to Him and ought to be presented willingly for Him to use. In fact, as we have already seen, He wants us to die to self and to present our bodies as “living” sacrifices to Him. He has a work for each one of us to do.

A third exhortation, among many more that could be considered, comes from the writings of Peter. Like John, Peter at one time had forsaken all to follow Jesus (Mk. 1:16-20). Many years later, as a much older man, Peter wrote of the need for younger people to “submit” and for all of God’s children to be “clothed with humility” (1 Pet. 5:5). He then wrote these challenging words: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (v.6). The hand of God is a loving hand that has been extended in mercy towards us. But let us not forget that it is also a mighty hand. How weak and insignificant we are before the Almighty! Like John on Patmos, we must humble ourselves at the feet of the Lord to whom we belong.

A Great Challange 
In the late 1800’s Charles T. Studd gave up a professional athletic career and became a missionary to China. At the age of 25 he also gave away a family fortune to support the evangelistic work of Hudson Taylor¹, George Mueller²and others. These words that he wrote have inspired many to surrender their lives to Christ: “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

Really, nothing more needs to be said. If we know anything about the mercy and love of God we should gladly surrender our lives to Him. To do anything less is to be dishonest.

By Martin Girard 

This article used by permission from www.skywaymessages.co.uk, adapted.

EDITOR’S NOTES 
1. James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was a British missionary. He spent 51 years in China, establishing China Inland Mission (now OMF International). He was noted for a zeal for evangelism while being sensitive to the local culture. Thousands of individuals were saved through the work he began. 
2. George Mueller (1805-1898) was an evangelist who established the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. He and those serving with him cared for over 10,000 orphans, established nearly 120 schools and educated over 120,000 children. The entire work was one of faith, asking only God for the needed provisions.

By Warren Henderson

The entertainment industry capitalizes on our desire to see common people accomplish the impossible. Superheroes are thus created to excite our imaginations about being more than what we are. Biblically speaking, we understand that there are only two authority structures with supernatural power – God’s and Satan’s, but the influence of the latter is limited by the first. Rather than wasting our time fanatisizing about imaginary heroes, we should be exploring how real people in their frailty can accomplish incredible feats in the tangible world. Caleb is a good biblical example of someone God empowered to be a true superhero. But why did God choose to use Caleb in a miraculous way to display His glory and not someone else? Let us study Joshua 14-15 to answer this question.

Historical Setting 
Seven years of invasion and conquest in Canaan had concluded; the military garrisons, fortifications and the main armies of the enemies were destroyed. Joshua was then given the task of dividing the inheritance among the tribes of Israel. Having allotted the land east of the Jordan to the two and a half tribes (Josh. 13), Joshua turned his attention to dividing and apportioning the land within Canaan to the remaining tribes. This would be determined by the drawing of lots (14:1-2). 

Caleb Requested His Inheritance 
Before any allotments were made in Canaan, the veteran Caleb stepped forward to assert his claim. Until now he had been quietly waiting because Joshua had been attending to the distribution of the land east of the Jordan. Caleb’s interruption was warranted and he reminded his life-long friend, Joshua, of what Moses had promised forty-five years earlier: “Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it [the Promised Land], and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the LORD” (Dt. 1:36). The fortification of Hebron was to be the city of his possession, still requiring the expulsion of the powerful Anakim (giants, see Deuteronomy 9:2) who resided there. 

Caleb,* a Kenizzite, would not have received a land allotment with the tribes of Israel; thus he presented a short autobiography as a prelude to his appeal (Josh. 14:6-12). Moses had promised him Hebron as an inheritance when the years of wandering concluded and the nation entered into Canaan and conquered it. Moses rewarded Caleb, 40 years old then, for being a faithful scout in Canaan and for withstanding the rebel spies at Kadesh Barnea. What was Caleb’s motivation for standing with Moses at that turbulent junction? Caleb declared, “I wholly followed the LORD my God” (v.8). Forty-five years later, Caleb was still devoted to the LORD. He was faithful among a faithless nation and one of the few who refused to establish an alliance with the Canaanites. He stood faithfully with Joshua as a spy of the land and now he stood faithfully among his people in the land. 

Caleb Was Strong In The Lord 
The 38 years of wandering and the seven years of warring in Canaan had passed since that tragic day of disbelief at Kadesh Barnea. Despite years of blistering desert heat and numerous military engagements, the LORD had wonderfully preserved Caleb. He was now 85 years of age (14:9-10). Despite his age, he remained strong in the LORD: “Yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said” (vv.11-12).

The King James Version of the Bible translates verse 12 as: “If so be the LORD will be with me.” There was no question of Caleb’s mistrusting the LORD. Rather, he mistrusted himself. Caleb is a great example to us in our present day of weakness and complacency. His character upholds the finest virtues to be found in soldiers of the cross today: one who is sold out for the Lord and yet mistrusts oneself. He exhibited unabated [sustained] divine strength because he lacked self-confidence. His humility and continued dependence on God was unrelenting, and thus inspire every true believer to rise above the doldrums of earthly existence to experience real spiritual vitality.

Caleb understood that his dependence on the LORD infused him with divine power; thus, it did not matter to him that his possession was a fortification occupied by giants. Hebron, which the Anakim called Kirjath-arba, was his inheritance, and he wanted to bravely claim it for God (14:15). This city had special significance for the Jewish nation as Abraham and Sarah were buried there (Gen. 23:19, 25:10). Even though he was 85 years of age, he knew the LORD was with him and therefore he had confidence that he would drive the Anakim from his inheritance. 

Caleb Receives His Inheritance 
Joshua was moved by his friend’s address and responded by blessing him and granting his request. Hebron was Caleb’s possession (Josh. 14:13-14), and in the power of the LORD he subdued the giants and restored to the city its proper name (15:13-14). Caleb’s fortitude demonstrates how God’s people in any dispensation are able to overcome their adversaries and adversities: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts” (Zech. 4:6). May we, like Caleb, experience ongoing personal revival by wholly following and depending on the Lord GOD. Then, we too will be strong in the Lord and live in the enjoyment of heavenly things as we patiently engage in earthly conflict. Certainly, the abundant blessing of our True Joshua, Jesus Christ, resides on every Caleb-like Christian. 

Caleb Claims His Inheritance 
Hebron was located within Judah’s portion and Caleb not only took the city from the Anakim, but with the help of his courageous nephew Othniel, he also captured Debir (Josh. 15:14-15). Caleb had promised that whoever was victorious at Debir would have his daughter Achsah’s hand in marriage, so Othniel (who would later become a judge in Israel; see Judges 3:8-11) became Caleb’s son-in-law (Josh. 15:16-17). Caleb bestowed Achsah and Othniel with land south of Hebron for their own inheritance. But after their marriage, Achsah asked her father Caleb for the springs near this land also, which Caleb granted her (15:18-19).

It is worthy to note that because Caleb trusted His God and engaged the enemy in His strength he was victorious and, as a result, increased his inheritance. The land allotments were to pass down from generation to generation within the same tribe. In other words, an individual or clan could not increase their inheritance by buying or stealing from their brethren, but only by engaging and defeating the enemy. The prayer of Jabez illustrates this truth: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested” (1 Chr. 4:10).

While the Law prohibited Jabez from gaining land through financial acquisition, he could enlarge his territory through legal conquest (that is, by seizing land from those whom God said should be removed from the Promised Land). To further advance the kingdom of God today, believers must do more than entertain each other in conquered territories (their homes and church buildings). They must be willing to venture out beyond these safe havens with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The Lord is building His Church through the earnest efforts of His people to evangelize the lost. Let us never be satisfied with status quo – may the Lord enlarge our capacity to serve Him as He enlarges His Church.

Caleb Shares His Inheritance 
Because Caleb conquered in the name of Jehovah, he obtained more, which enabled him to bless others more. Besides blessing his daughter and son-in-law with a gift of land which included springs of water, Hebron, the city he captured from the Anakim, became one of the forty-eight priestly cities and one of the six cities of refuge. Caleb did not object to sharing with others that which God had empowered him to possess. He was glad to bless others with what he had acquired in the LORD; this is a great example to follow.

Accordingly, Paul reminded the believers at Corinth that they should not be puffed up in themselves over their possessions: “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Cor. 4:7). Whatever we have comes from God; there is no room for pride. Paul further exhorted the Ephesians that, rather than stealing from others as they may have done before they were saved, they ought to work hard to supply their own necessities and then to assist those in need (Eph. 4:28). With this in mind, may we, like Caleb, not think so highly of ourselves and our possessions that we are unwilling to assist others with what God has graciously placed in our stewardship.

END NOTE 
*Caleb’s example shows us that the more we trust in the Lord for what we need, the more we will have to share with others and the greater our own blessing will be. This is a true hero of the faith. Caleb was sold out for the Lord and accomplished the impossible. May we also with humble hearts rise above our own deficiencies [faults] through resurrection power and achieve the spectacular for God. An imaginary superhero will never lead a lost person to Christ, but a real hero of the faith experiencing supernatural power can!

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
—Francis R. Havergal (1836-1879)

By Alan H. Crosby

The Lord Jesus illustrated the commitment of servants by two parables: the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 and the parable of the minas (“pounds” KJV) in Luke 19:11-27. They differ in one most important respect. The talents were given to “each according to his ability” but the minas were just given one to each. They were all expected to put to work what they had received, and their reward was based on the profitability of their service. We differ in our abilities and therefore will differ in the talents – the spiritual gifts we are given. But we all have one mina, our life, to put to work for the Lord.

How Shall We Serve? 
We are not to do as the young man did who left home and “squandered his wealth in wild living” (Lk. 15:11-31 NIV). But if we have, we should do as he did: repent and come back. His father received him as though he had never transgressed. This shows that it is never too late, as long as we have breath, to come to God and be fully accepted.

Scripture says that the way to serve the Lord is to “pursue righteousness and love” (Prov. 21:21).

Young Christians Need Help 
Young people are practically all characterized by one trait – they want to be doing things with their friends, who are chosen from among those by whom they are surrounded. If their friends are worldly, they will be worldly; if their friends are believers actively serving the Lord, they will tend to be doing things profitable for Him. Parents and the church (assembly) have a responsibility to help young Christians have Christian friends, have clean fun and do profitable service for the Lord.

However, there are always those like the young man in our Lord’s story who want to go to a place where they can “have a good time” and “do their own thing.” They may then have to find out for themselves that “living it up” is an unwise, profitless choice.

Choosing A Vocation 
A question commonly asked of a child is: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Their decision as they mature is most important because it will structure his or her life. The crucial question then is not “What do I want to do?” but, as asked by Saul (Paul) at his conversion, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). When we do what the Lord wants us to do, we will be doing the Lord’s work!

Timothy was told, “If a man cleanses himself … he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). May the vocation that is chosen be the one that allows us, as Scripture says, to “do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10).

Service Profitable For The Lord 
Going into “full-time service” is only one way to serve profitably. But it will be profitable for the Lord only if that is the place He wants that Christian to serve. He may want the person to have a career and witness in it to his or her associates. In Scripture, one man eager to serve the Lord was told to go back home and tell how much the Lord had done for Him (See Mark 5:19-20).

People asked the prophet John (the Baptist) about their vocation and producing good fruit for the Lord (See Luke 3:8-18). Those who asked he instructed to keep their jobs – jobs that were commonly available at that time – but with the qualification that they should avoid misusing them. John did not forbid any job, including serving as soldiers. However, Scripture says, “Whatever you do … do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17). Each person is to determine the Lord’s will for him or her regarding a vocation and then do it.

Discovering The Lord’s Will 
Only indirect answers are provided by Scripture to the question, “How do I determine the Lord’s will?” A wise plan would be to follow the example of Paul and his companions in Acts 16:6-10. They knew that in general it was His will that they “go and make disciples” (Mt. 28:19). So they arbitrarily decided to go into Phyrygia and Galatia, but “they were kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” (where these regions were located). Then they “tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” Finally, Paul was given a vision from which he concluded that they were being called to preach the gospel in Macedonia. The result was that the gospel did not remain in Asia, but it was taken into Europe. In short, like Paul and his companions we need to follow what is generally His will and then trust Him to show us the particulars. Furthermore “each … should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10).

Ambition 
In whatever field a job is taken, “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord” (Eph. 6:7). Those who do this will generally be considered to be good workers, suitable for promotion. Top people are always looking for workers to whom they can delegate responsibility. The worker who is a Christian should be energetic and trustworthy. However, if our ambition is to obtain power and prestige for ourselves rather than to produce for the Lord, it is misdirected.

The Devil’s Trap 
Our employment will generally be in jobs that help people to meet their needs. However, there are occupations in which we can make “good money” by helping others to fulfill their sinful desires. These occupations can be Satan’s trap for us. He would have us “sell out” to him and serve his purposes. 

Another trap is to yield to an employer’s demand that one do wrong things to “get ahead.” The trap often lies in doing something that is just “a little bit wrong,” but it will lead to activities that will be very destructive to one’s walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan has lures other than advancement. He stimulates us “to find out for ourselves” the satisfying way of life instead of simply obeying Scripture. Solomon is a typical example. He tried everything and recorded his experience in the Book of Ecclesiastes. He tried pleasure, alcohol, great projects, acquiring property and having a harem of many women (2:1-10). His conclusion from his experience was that “everything was meaningless, a chasing after wind: [and] nothing was gained” (2:11). His advice is: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13). This means submitting your life to the Lord and seeking to make it please Him rather than yourself.

The Way Of The Committed Servant 
The Psalmist advises us to commit our lives to the Lord. He says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good … Fear the Lord you His saints for those who fear Him lack nothing … Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days [will] keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:8-14).

Living For Jesus
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
—Thomas Obediah Chisholm (1866-1960)

By Timothy P. Hadley

In his book called “Absolute Surrender” Andrew Murray gives a wonderful illustration from 1 Kings 20:2-4. Ben-hadad ruled over Syria, located to the north of Israel. The wicked King Ahab was reigning over the Northern Kingdom from the capital city of Samaria. Ben-hadad gathered together his armies, which he described as more numerous than all of the dust of Samaria. He, along with thirty-two other kings, attacked and devastated the countryside of Israel. They surrounded the capital and brought the rebellious King Ahab to complete submission. All hope was gone and everything lost. The message came: “Thus says Ben-hadad: Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are mine” (NKJV). He demanded and got absolute, unconditional surrender. Later, things worked out quite differently in this very interesting story, but at first Ahab offered the Syrian king everything he possessed. Let’s focus on that one sentence: “My lord, O king, just as you say, I and all that I have are yours.”

This sentence very aptly describes what ought to be our attitude toward God – what every child of God ought to say to Him. If our hearts are willing there is no limit to what God will do for and through us, but this necessitates our unconditional surrender to Him. This holy life has two sides: doing what God wants you to do and letting God do what He wants to do. In this we will be wonderfully pleased at the result.

Life Service, Not Lip Service 
Abraham was called the father of faith because of his willingness to surrender everything to God – ultimately demonstrated when God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham didn’t argue with God. Rather, he laid his son on the altar of sacrifice! God saw this act of surrender and said to Abraham, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Gen. 22:12). This proved his allegiance to God.

It seems that we are usually ready to do almost anything except surrender to God. I recently read a story about British Navy commander Lord Nelson. The British were victorious over their enemy and the defeated admiral came on board Lord Nelson’s ship to surrender. The admiral walked up in all of his regalia [finest uniform] with a sword swinging by his side. When he put out his hand to the British commander, Lord Nelson impassively said, “Your sword first, sir.” Similarly, we come to offer God the flattery of our lips, the praise of our hymns; but God is saying to us, “Your sword first.”

Start Well And Finish Well 
Another example of one who lived his life totally surrendered to Christ is the apostle Paul. From the very first moment he met the Lord on the road to Damascus to his very last breath, Paul lived a life sold out to Christ. Before his conversion Paul (then known as Saul) was a very religious man who thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians. But when the bright light from heaven stopped him in his tracks, Paul found himself face down crying out, “Who are You, Lord?” Once he found out it was Jesus Christ speaking to him from heaven, Paul immediately surrendered his life by saying, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” For the rest of his life Paul relinquished control, abandoning his own desires and passions, and submitting everything to the lordship of Christ (Acts 9:1-19)!

In Paul we see a very important principle: It does not matter how we begin, but how we finish. Many start out strong in the Christian life, but they give out along the way because of difficulties that arise or they are distracted by the cares of this world – something else becomes more important than Christ (Mt. 13:19-22). But Paul could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day; and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). What does this mean for believers today?

• “I fought the good fight.” When we trusted Christ as our Savior we entered a battleground. Satan lost our souls but he’s not about to give up. He’ll do anything to ruin our testimony. We are no match for the Devil – it’s impossible for any of us to win in our own strength. But Christ has given each of us His armor and the sword of His Word so we can stand firm (Eph. 6:10-17).
• “I finished the race.” Paul often referred to the Christian life as a race, not a short sprint but a marathon. God has designed a specific path for each of us, giving gifts and abilities to enable us to fulfill His purposes and finish the course. This race is long and filled with obstacles, but Christ hasn’t left us to struggle on our own. The Holy Spirit guides and strengthens us along the way.
• “I have kept the faith.” After revealing Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, Jesus entrusted him with a priceless treasure: the gospel. “Keep” means “to guard;” and that’s what Paul did as he preached and defended the faith, whether to Gentile skeptics or religious Jews.

The apostle Paul was not some type of “super Christian.” He was simply a Christian who yielded to the Word of God, submitted to the will of God and surrendered to the work of God in his life. Paul had a fresh realization that God was at work in him and through him (Phil. 1:6, 2:13). We are inadequate to fulfill God’s purposes, but the Lord Jesus provides everything we need. 

A Positive Challenge 
Much is given to us in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels about denying oneself and taking up our cross. But in the gospel of John the Lord Jesus describes a disciple of His as one who continues in His Word (8:31). We can be sold out to Christ only if we’re seeking His direction, following His Word!

In John 13:34-35 the Lord Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We cannot say we have allegiance to Christ if we hold something against another believer. My lack of love says that I’m selfish rather than surrendered.

Jesus used the analogy of a vine and branches to describe our relationship with Him. Then He declared, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (Jn. 15:8). A branch can only bear fruit by abiding in the vine. In the same way, if we are going to be sold out for Christ we must maintain a connection with the Lord Jesus in order to become and do what He desires. The Lord Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (v.5).

Each of us is now faced with a decision: Are we going to be sold out for Christ? Are we going to give our lives over to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us? How do we move into a life of absolute surrender? How do we live a sold-out life? I think the old hymn by Judson W. Van De Venter, “All To Jesus I Surrender,” puts it well. As you read excerpts of it, let it challenge your heart: “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken … All to Jesus I surrender; Make me, Savior, wholly Thine … All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power … All to Jesus I surrender; Now, I feel the sacred flame. Oh, the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to His Name!”

A Relevant CommentBe it observed that the cross is viewed as the consummation [fulfillment] of a life of obedience – the completion of a work of self-surrender. It is what we may call, to use a Levitical term, the burnt-offering aspect of the death of Christ rather than the sin offering. True, it is the same act which consummated a life of obedience that put away sin. But considering verses in Philippians 2, sin-bearing is not so much the thought presented there as self-surrender. Jesus gave up all. He laid aside His glory and came down into this poor world. When He came, He shunned all human pomp and grandeur and became a poor man. His parents were poor – they were only able to acquire the lowest grade of sacrifice which the law allowed: not a bullock, not a lamb, but a pair of turtle doves (compare Leviticus 15:29 and Luke 2:24). He Himself worked and was known as a carpenter. Do not miss the moral force of this fact by saying that every Jew was brought up in some trade. Our Lord Jesus Christ really took a low place. The very town where He was brought up was a proverb of reproach. He was called a “Nazarene;” and it was asked with a sneer of contempt, “Is this not the carpenter?” (Mt. 2:23, Mk. 6:3). He was a root out of a dry ground. He had no form nor comeliness, no beauty in man’s eye. He was the despised, neglected, self-emptied, meek and lowly Man from first to last. He gave up all, even life itself. His self-surrender was complete. —Charles H. Mackintosh