I'd like to raise the subject of complete submission unto God. My favorite hymn's first verse goes like this:
I gave my life for thee, my precious blood I shed;
That thou mightst ransomed be, and quickened from the dead!
I gave, I gave my life for thee; what hast thou given for me?
I gave, I gave my life for thee; what hast thou given for me?
You see, of course, what I mean. I am talking about our reasonable sacrifice. What did Jesus leave behind? The next verse explains that as well.
My father's house of light- my glory circled throne-
I left for earthly night; for wand'rings sad and lone!
I left, I left it all for thee; hast thou left aught for me?
I left, I left it all for thee; hast thou left aught for me?
What did He leave? Everything. Which I believe to be the ultimate standards to which we, as Christians - imitators of Christ - should look to. What is leaving all? Leaving all is leaving all of the world, I believe, and keeping only the things of God. Leaving all is abandoning the pleasures of the world for the suffering of Christ - and for joy in Heaven. Leaving all is martyrdom. Can you picture a martyr - or even Christ - sitting on a couch watching TV? Overeating on 'thanksgiving'? Dressing like a 'punk'? Pursuing the 'American dream'? Playing Video games? Becoming a football star? Becoming a musician?
'I gave, I gave my life for thee - what hast thou given for me?'
(I say not that I am by any means accomplishing this or that I am by any means better than any of you. I would, however, like to point this out, as you can't fight something you don't know exists.)
I gave my life for thee, my precious blood I shed;
That thou mightst ransomed be, and quickened from the dead!
I gave, I gave my life for thee; what hast thou given for me?
I gave, I gave my life for thee; what hast thou given for me?
You see, of course, what I mean. I am talking about our reasonable sacrifice. What did Jesus leave behind? The next verse explains that as well.
My father's house of light- my glory circled throne-
I left for earthly night; for wand'rings sad and lone!
I left, I left it all for thee; hast thou left aught for me?
I left, I left it all for thee; hast thou left aught for me?
What did He leave? Everything. Which I believe to be the ultimate standards to which we, as Christians - imitators of Christ - should look to. What is leaving all? Leaving all is leaving all of the world, I believe, and keeping only the things of God. Leaving all is abandoning the pleasures of the world for the suffering of Christ - and for joy in Heaven. Leaving all is martyrdom. Can you picture a martyr - or even Christ - sitting on a couch watching TV? Overeating on 'thanksgiving'? Dressing like a 'punk'? Pursuing the 'American dream'? Playing Video games? Becoming a football star? Becoming a musician?
'I gave, I gave my life for thee - what hast thou given for me?'
(I say not that I am by any means accomplishing this or that I am by any means better than any of you. I would, however, like to point this out, as you can't fight something you don't know exists.)