Your Last Rolo?

If you ever find yourself on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire', and you get stuck on a particular question, then I might just be the 'phone-a-friend' you always wanted. I'm not talking about questions on World History or Classical Music - my specialty would be chocolate! In my opinion chocolate is one of the most fantastic creations of all time and I have a deep passion for this most wonderful delicacy!

One of my favourite kinds of chocolate is a tube of milk chocolate coated caramels called Rolos. A number of years ago in England, Nestle started a marketing campaign that very quickly became a household phrase - 'Do you love someone enough to give them your last Rolo?' The idea behind the campaign was simple. Are you willing to sacrifice these delicious chocolates? Not your first or your second in the tube, but the one right at the end. Do you love someone that much?

As human beings we all know the overwhelming sense of being loved when someone gives something to us that we know has been costly for the giver. I don't mean just costly in terms of money, but costly in terms of giving of themselves. It speaks to our hearts of such care and appreciation, of how they must value us so dearly!

I wonder why then, as Christians, we so often treat God differently. We slice off our 10%, or we give Him the pieces of our lives that seem reasonable and appropriate - the necessary requirement and no more. We hide behind our knowledge that God is love and wants good things for us. We harden our hearts with reason to hide from doing anything impulsive as an act of pure worship and sacrifice.

God doesn't need our offerings - the price of our relationship with Him has already been paid. But, what if, for a purpose beyond our own understanding, He's asking us to lay down something in our lives. Are our ears open to hearing Him ask this? What if He asks us to hand over some of whatever we hold dearest in our hearts - our time, our comfort, our own security, the respect of others, our hopes and dreams. Will we risk making a fool of ourselves for Him?

Only you know the answers to these questions in your heart. There's no guilt or shame as we're real about where we are at. But I want to challenge you today. Do you love Jesus enough to give Him those deep things in your heart that you hold so dear? Are you willing to lay them down, should He ask you for them? Are you willing to risk hearing Him ask? Do you love Him enough to give Him whatever is your `last Rolo'?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that because of Your amazing work on the Cross, You paid the ultimate sacrifice. You paid the final price. Lord, thank You that we don't have to earn Your love or relationship with You. But Lord, if there are areas of my life that You do want me to lay down for You, will You give me ears to hear You ask and a heart that's so full of love and worship for You that I will have the courage to do it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.