“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 10:12
Not long ago I was forced to lie in bed flat on my back for a month in order to heal a couple of stubborn pressure sores. That meant canceling a few important appointments and missing some critical deadlines. It meant days of the same old routine: A bed bath. Dressing the wounds. Leg exercises. Breakfast. Waiting. Lunch. Napping. Dinner. Being read to. Prayers and then sleep.
At times it was hard to hold depression at bay, and I was tempted to think, “Now come on, God, none of my Christian friends seem to be faced with these faith-challenging tests. Aren’t you asking a bit much?”
Just what does God ask of us? Deuteronomy 10:12 sums it up neatly. All God asks for is… everything. If we feel like a martyr faced with heart-wrenching trials, perhaps we’re concentrating too much on what God asks of us and not enough on what God has given us.
Is “everything” too much? Think about what God has given you. How much did He hold back? Anything? Of course not. In fact, He gave more than everything. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
If we’re fainthearted, remember that God has promised us power to help us do all that He asks of us. Even if it is everything.
Lord, you gave Your life! You ask me to do the same. Bless You for giving me the power to love and serve You with all my heart and soul. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Blessings,
Joni and Friends
