Is Your ALL on the Altar?

Greg Binder’s week: 3-6-11 2 articles this week

When Jesus taught in Luke 9:62 that “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”, He forever set the standard for not only becoming a child of God but also, for remaining His child. No doubt the life of a Christian demands not only a strong and steadfast devotion to the Lord, but a sincere and complete devotion to Christ and His way Rom. 12:1. When one brings any offering to the altar, he must place the entire offering upon the altar. It is impossible to present half your body as “a living sacrifice.” Abraham took Isaac and bound his whole body to the altar Gen. 22:9, unlike Ananias and his wife Sapphira who kept back part of what was to be offered Acts 5:1-2. Paul wrote to the Corinthians; “He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly” – 2 Cor. 9:6; which means if you withhold and refuse to give your all, the your reward will be withheld.

How many of us can truthfully say that we’ve given our all to the point that there’s nothing left to give? Can you honestly say “Lord, I’ve given you my all and my best and I have nothing left to give”? Let me remind you that when Jesus came to this earth, He came with the intent to leave everything here; even His very life. Although He told the Father “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” in Jn. 17:4, He didn’t stop there. Philippians 2:7 says; “He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” So, while we’re sitting here kicking back and enjoying all the finer things of life, the Lord requires no less of a sacrifice for Him, from us: “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life” – Rev. 2:10. This is what the Lord desires, requires and expects from us. He has no use for our spare time, money, energy, efforts or anything else we have left over. The Lord desires, and Heaven requires our full attention, effort, energy and allegiance. But, if we withhold any then we might as well keep it all.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Luke 10:27

Kevin Wright