Radical Devotion to Christ

It was three and a half years ago that, by the grace of God, I became a Christian. Over these few short years, I’ve enjoyed discovering what that really means. In some sense, I'm sure I will never fully comprehend all the implications of the Christian life before this mortal body passes away, but here's what I have so far:

• I have faith that Christ died for my sins;

1 Corinthians 15:3 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,”

• By this faith and through Christ’s blood, I have attained righteousness before a just and holy God;

Romans 9:30 – “What shall we say, then? That Gentiles did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;”

• I have been saved from the wrath of God;

Romans 5:9 – “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

• I have been given eternal joy;

John 15:11 – “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

John 16:22 – “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

• I am called to be radically devoted to Christ;

Luke 14:33-35 – “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."

Luke 14:26 – “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:27 – “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 9:24 – “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Admittedly, we don’t see the phrase “radically devoted” in the Bible. Yet, we are clearly called to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30), which is a devotion to Him that couldn’t be more radical.

I find this call challenging and exhilarating at the same time. Of course, living in this way is only possible with the Holy Spirit. The call to be radically devoted is a command to deny myself and my fleshly desires. It is a call to love my neighbors when even the thought of talking to them makes me feel uncomfortable.

I am constantly battling my own insecurities, my too-often loose tongue, laziness, distractions… the list of excuses goes on… that hinder me from being radically devoted to Christ. I find that through prayer and meditation on God’s Word, the Holy Spirit brings me close to Christ. This enables me to seek His glory and my joy no matter what obstacles my flesh or the Evil One may put in my path.

Despite the challenges, I know how much I love Christ and desire to demonstrate my love for Him. I long to say with Paul, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8) and to show the world, as the psalmist said, [His] steadfast love is better than life.” (Psalm 63:3).

As God continues to work in my life, I pray that it will have a flavor of radical devotion that will bring glory to His holy name.

JT

Soli Deo Gloria