How Much of `All` is All?
by Philip Asselin
At first glance it seems such a stupid question. But, in the six months before I became a Christian it was on my mind every Sunday evening as I walked away from the church service. I knew I was a sinner. I knew that Christ died for me. I knew I needed to give my life to Him. Yet, I found myself bargaining with Him each week over how much of `all` I could give Him and get `saved`, while still holding on to a bit of `me`. It was clear that 70, 80, 90% wasn`t going to work; although I started there! I finally settled on 99% -`that`s my best and final offer Jesus, take it or leave it!` Of course He didn`t take it. You can`t bargain your way into heaven with God.
But aren`t we all a bit like that, at least some of the time? We may have given Jesus `all` at one time and were born again, yet found we have taken back `just a tiny amount` for ourselves? We then wonder why things aren`t working out so well, why our old sinful ways are beginning to surface, and we feel distant from God. The old saying is so true, `Jesus is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all`. The bit that we have taken back from God`s control actually isn`t under our control at all, but the enemy of our soul! It took me ages to understand that.
Putting all we have and are under the Lordship of Christ is placing it in the safest place in the universe. It allows the enemy no room. It brings us back into relationship with Jesus, and brings true peace and joy. So, ‘all’ is exactly that, ALL, everything. One day forty years ago the Holy Spirit revealed that to me and I surrendered all to Jesus. Over the years I have had to do that again a number of times, as I have found myself taking little bits (and sometimes bigger bits!) back. What about you, dear reader? Is it time to really make Jesus Lord of all?
Prayer: Dear Lord, I am sorry for trying to bargain with You about the rightful claim You have to the Lordship of all my life. For the times I`ve taken back parts of my life from Your control, thinking I could do it better. I realise now that what isn`t under Your control is under the enemy`s, and I don`t want that any longer. Right now I give back to You full control of all my life, and make You Lord of it for Your glory. Amen.
Philip Asselin Philip is on the associate ministry and teaching teams with Glyndley Manor. He and his wife Gillian attended the second Healing Retreat at Glyndley Manor in 1992, and were greatly helped. They have two grown up children, one grandson, and a step-granddaughter in California, and a daughter and granddaughter in Eastbourne. His desire is to see people healed and set free to serve God.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
