What Have You Given Up Lately?

So, tell me. How are you different since you’ve been saved? Honestly. What changes have taken place in your life since you accepted Christ. Remember, not only is he your savior but he wants to be your Lord (master, teacher…). That’s another post for another day. Think hard. What have you given up? Please don’t say “who are you to judge?” or “don’t be so judgmental!” or “Christ doesn’t expect you to give anything up…he will accept you as you are”. (Hmmm…which one to start with) First of all, I don’t claim to be anybodies judge. I am here to encourage you to search yourself. Is that so bad? And I wouldn’t have to ‘appear’ to judge if churches weren’t so full of Christians who are playing spiritual ‘slot-machine’. “C’mon lucky sevens!” Your spiritual life shouldn’t be a gamble. Are you hearing from the Lord? Is he moving in your heart and life? Is he making changes in your life? Ooh…there’s that giving-things-up thing again. So, what have you given up? Let me re-phrase that, what has God led you to give up? Oh! That’s right, he doesn’t expect you to give things up. He accepts you as-is…sight unseen…no warranty…no guarantee…no further commitment. I can’t agree with that; totally. I do agree that if you seek Jesus with a sincere heart, he will hear you. He turns no-one away who truly seeks him. He will meet you where you are. But it doesn’t stop there. Once you are in the fold, he wants your LIFE. Why else would he (gasp) turn away the rich young ruler? Jesus told him to give something up that he was attached to.

Mark 10
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Maybe you’ve given up smoking or drinking or swearing or pornography. Those are all good things to purge from your life. Did God lead you to do that, or was it someone else ‘encouraging’ you to give them up, because that’s not ‘socially acceptable’ for a Christian (another post for another day). Those are the obvious things to give up. What about being over-indulgent in sports; food; the internet; movies; video games… I’m not saying all of these are sinful. They might be a stronghold for someone, though. God doesn’t want strongholds in your life. I personally don’t drink. Not because ‘thus sayeth the Lord’ but because I grew up around a bunch of alcoholic people. Friends, family, co-workers. Drinking would probably become a stronghold for me. As you grow in the Lord, many times he asks you to remove things from your life that might hinder you from moving on to the next level. He’s not going to take it all away right up-front. Although he might. And it’s not the same method for every person. We are all different. What you might be able to handle at a certain time, I might not be able to handle. He works on us at a pace that might stretch us, but will never break us (as in loosing the faith break). If we break, usually we are not being led by God. Usually we are putting ourselves under a man-made bondage. We might see that something is ‘working’ for them so we put the same yoke on our own backs. It might not be time for that yoke. God knows when it’s time.

Conclusion:
If it comes out and says in the Bible (thus sayeth the Lord), it’s very safe to implement it into your life. You don’t need a midnight vision or revelation. Just do it. Don’t be a drunkard. Don’t commit adultery (or even lust upon a woman). Don’t steal. Don’t kill (or hate). If it doesn’t come out and say it, and you have a hard time finding a parallel example in the scripture, let the Lord lead you. Let the Holy Spirit convict you. Don’t say “Gosh, I really don’t feel right doing this but the pastor/youth pastor/elder/deacon (or fill in your own blank) says it’s okay. He does it and seems to be pretty spiritual.” He’s not the Pope. He can’t make and or change the rules at will. He’s not God. He doesn’t know your heart. He doesn’t know with what you struggle. Only God knows this. Who better to lead your life than someone who knows your life better than you do? Just ask God if there is something in your life that might be hindering you. If you don’t feel your prayers breaking through the ceiling, see if there is something hindering you. If there is, give it up and repent. If you talk to the Lord today, just ask him: “Am I where I need to be today?” And don’t let it turn into a martyr’s syndrome. “Look what I’M giving up for the Lord.” Keep it personal…between you and the Lord. Don’t be surprised if HE asks something of YOU.

God Bless!

“…holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Heb. 12:14