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2002-09-18 - Twelve Steps for Christian
Living
Part 3 - Decision Time
Step 3: We make a decision to turn our lives over to the care and will
of God.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) Then Jesus said, Come to
me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble
and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits
perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.
Eugene Peterson beautifully paraphrases this passage in The Message: Are
you tired? Worn out? Burned-out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me
and youll recover your life. Ill show you how to take a real
rest. Walk with me and work with mewatch how I do it. Learn the unforced
rhythms of grace. I wont lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and youll learn to live freely and lightly.
In Step One, we admitted that we are powerless over our sinful nature. In
Step 2, we came to believe that God, through his Son Jesus, could restore
us to sane living. It is one thing to believe Steps 1 and 2 are true, but
quite another to actually implement this Biblical plan. Step 3 brings us
to that implementation, to a decision time. Are we truly going to turn our
lives and wills over to the care of God? Steps 1 and 2 are the basis for
our decision. The Bible must have authority, in order for us to have this
basis. The steps are not the foundation for our decision in Step 3, but rather
tools to give us the realization that we must make a decision.
Let me illustrate with this story. There was a large pasture filled with
people. The pasture had a wooden fence running down the middle. Jesus and
the Evil One were watching the people milling around. Jesus calls out to
the people: All of you that want to follow me, go to the right side
of the fence. After a while, Jesus and His followers walked away. One
person was left standing on top of the fence. The Evil One said to him,
come with me now. The man replied, but I am on the
fence. The Evil One answered, I own the fence; come now.
Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) Commit your work to the Lord, and
then your plans will succeed.
If you are on the fence, it is time to make a choice. It is time to acquire
the Power that is greater than us. It is time to receive the One Who can
turn our broken, weary, insane and unmanageable lives into the lives that
He has planned for us.
1 John 4:15-16 (NLT) All who proclaim that Jesus is the
Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how
much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him.
Are you ready to take Step 3? Are you ready for Christ to be the basis for
your decision? Are you ready to truly turn all parts of your life and will
over to His care? Are you ready to start really living? If you have
made a commitment to change your life and turn it over to God, can people
around you see the change? For some of us, it is time to move the head knowledge
to our heart and then on to our feet. It is time to make your changed life
obvious to those around you. I asked a horse trainer friend of mine recently
about another trainer. In his dry wit, he replied, "well, if horse training
were a crime, it would be a crime to hang him." In other words, there was
no evidence of him being a true horse trainer. Is there evidence in your
life that you have made the decision to grow? If you accepted Christ before,
maybe it is time to recommit your life and will to Him.
Romans 10:9 (NLT) For if you confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Come on and get off the fence. This simple prayer will take you to the right
side of the pasture.
Jesus, I am a sinner in need of a Savior and a manager
of my life, will and eternity. I believe in You. I believe that You died
and rose again so that I may live. Come into my heart today and take control
of my life. By your authority I pray, Amen.
David Massey
david@e-devotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.e-devotionals.org
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