"Am I Willing?"

The Session of HOPE Church Raleigh was away for our Annual Retreat last weekend.  I used a devotion from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers as my opening devotion.  I want to share it with you and then make a few comments.

Is God’s Will My Will?  By Oswald Chambers

"This is the will of God, your sanctification…"     1 Thessalonians 4:3

Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (1 Corinthians 1:30 “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption…”). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.

All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”)  He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing “…shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39).

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.                                        End of devotion by Chambers.

That question asked by Chambers, “Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ?” has been on my mind since the first time I read it.  Am I?  Am I willing to let God do everything?  Jesus Christ His Son has already made it possible.  His work on the cross, my atonement, redemption, salvation, sanctification was made possible by Him.  Why wouldn’t I be willing?  There in lies the answer.  God is the one that has called me and saved me, but my relationship with Him is effected by me saying either “Lord, I’ve got this” or “Lord, You’ve got this.”  

When I let go of my will and let God have His way in my life in ALL things, in HIS way, what a difference that would make.  Oh, it’s all possible.  He can do ALL He says He can do.  No question.  So why wouldn’t I?  Well, that means changes, transformations in me have to happen.  The question remains, “Am I willing?”  

What we have to realize as believers/followers of Jesus Christ is that it doesn’t work well to try to keep a foot in both camps.  Keeping a foot in the Kingdom of Darkness  (1 John 1) and one in the Kingdom of Light (1 John 1) just doesn’t work.  When we firmly plant both feet in the Kingdom of Light we will find that the power of God already in us (His Holy Spirit) will begin to purify us for His purpose by His will.  He wants to sanctify us.  He is certainly able, no question there.  The question remains, “Am I willing?”

Blessings friends,

Pastor Marty Duffell - Pastor of HOPE Church Raleigh

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