Giving Up

"Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure." -2 Corinthians 12:21

In a day where we do what "feels right" and tend to look to movie stars and musicians as a compass for what is morally acceptable, we balk at the idea that there may be such thing as a plumb line for morality; that there may be such a thing as absolute truth.

"Well, God didn’t mean that for today's time," we say. "That's so old-fashioned."  "That may be true for you but not for me."  "Do you really expect me to live like that? Surely you don't mean for me to do that."  Sometimes it's all too easy to excuse away the very thing that brings power to our faith. 

But the reality is, there are things we will need to give up in order to make room for God in our lives - so that we can experience more of Him in our lives.

I remember a time when every "room" in my heart was filled - it was filled with anger, hurt, disappointment, and bitterness. I had a small little space in the closet of my heart where I had allowed God to live. But God brought someone into my life to help me see that if I really wanted to follow Jesus, I had to give up those things to make room for Him.  And what a difference it made!  Once I repented and renounced those things in my life, they were replaced by God’s peace, love and joy.  I felt so much lighter, like a burden had been lifted. 

Once we get a true revelation of the sacrifice Jesus made, any sacrifice He requires of us pales in comparison.  “Of course, Lord,” we’ll say.  There is nothing that compares to His love for us, nothing that even comes close.

Is there anything you need to give up in order to make more room for Him?   I pray we each have the strength to give up things in our lives, so that we can experience the fullness of His love and power within us.