All Of Me: How Serious Are You With Christ?

All Of Me 2

How Serious Are You With Christ?

by Jeremy Sanchez

written by Ana Andres

[Listen to the preaching here: All Of Me 2]

"This is God's universe, and He does things His way. You may have a better way, but you don't have a universe." - J Vernon McGee

Many times we fail to wrap one’s mind around the idea of how big and sovereign our God is. That’s okay and that’s completely normal because as humans, it’s impossible for us to fathom completely the greatness of God. But the problem sets in when we do not acknowledge this fact and most of the time, we don’t especially when it comes to God’s authority over our lives. Even as Christians, we like the idea that God is so sovereign and big that He is able to save us but most of the time, not the idea that because God is so sovereign and big, He is to be Lord over our lives.

It says in Romans 12:1, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him”and so basically it says that we are to give all of ourselves because He gave all of Him. Well truthfully, that’s easier said than done. Yes sure, Jesus gave all of Himself and that’s great and awesome but do I really have to give all of me? He loves and forgives anyway. It wouldn’t matter how I live.

 But you see, if that’s the kind of mindset you have, then I don’t think you understand the gravity of what Jesus has done and how profound, unfathomable even, His love is. In the preceding chapters of Romans (chapters 1-11), God’s story of relentless Grace was shown. It talked about how God saved us from our eternal doom through Jesus Christ and hence chapter 12 was the response; that after God picked us from our dark nothingness, so great and so powerful that it inevitably moves us to do whatever it takes to worship Him with our utmost being.

Aside from His loving nature, we also have to remember that He is to be feared.

“Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

Philippians 2:9-10

If we truly respect God and understand that He is much much bigger and mightier than us all, we will revere him. To illustrate this, imagine President P-noy visited your school and spoke to you. You would most likely be polite and show him respect perhaps more than you give to others because of his authority as President of the Philippines. How much more God, who is supernatural, who lives in unapproachable light and is surrounded by billions of angels. Let us take him seriously.

If you are serious about Jesus Christ and you’re willing to make Him Lord over your life, here are four points, derived from the acronym L.O.R.D., to guide you;

1)   L-oyal to Jesus

Loyalty is like a roller coaster ride. There will be plenty of ups and downs but you have to stick to the ride otherwise, you will fall off and die. Likewise, the Christian walk will definitely have plenty of ups and downs too but if we’re loyal to Him, He promises that we will never falter.

“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.”

Luke 6:47-48.

2) O-bey

“If you love Me, obey My commandments.”

 John 14:15

Then again, this is something easier said than done. We are naturally born with certain desires and we are naturally rebellious. Sometimes, obeying God would literally have to mean to oppose one’s self. It’s difficult and almost unnatural but we are given the opportunity to transcend this through His love and our love for Him altogether, He will pour His Grace to which we will allow to fill our lives and this will empower us to obey Him.

Many times, we won’t understand why He would ask us to do certain things but we always have to remember that He is much bigger than us and our limited mindset. He knows better than we do and that is why we have to obey Him. It is also for our own good.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” –

Isaiah 55:8-9

3) R-epent

To repent means to acknowledge your sins and to turn away from it. It’s very important that we acknowledge our sins. Most of the time, we justify ourselves and create reasons not to turn away from a certain thing just because we think it is what’s best for us. But then again, God knows better and His best plan is the perfect plan for you and me. Allow God to chage your thinking and turn away from what He commands us to turn away to.

4) D-ie to self

When we decided to accept Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, we also decided to surrender our lives to Him. It is no longer about us but Christ.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. “ 

Galatians 2:20

It’s silly and it almost sounds ridiculous to give one’s life to someone but he is not just someone, He gave His life up for you and not only you but for all the human beings who ever existed and even those to exist. If you understand this profoundly and have experienced in your life the outcome of what He has done, you will be more than willing to give your life.

So what are you waiting for? A special day? A miracle? Start following Jesus now. The day is today, not tomorrow, not later, but today.