1 Thessalonians
Quarantine is a condition of forced isolation often imposed upon those with a contagious disease, or to determine if someone is in fact infected. My computer has the capability to quarantine off sectors in which a virus has been discovered. This built-in protective measure is intended to keep my hard drive from crashing!
I struggle to quarantine that part of my will that dares to run in opposition to God’s will. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Paul understood the crucial importance of imprisoning renegade thoughts that sit like mines ready to maim the dedicated spirit moving to please God.
If someone offered you a doughnut with a bite taken from it how appealing would it be to you? If I offer God myself minus that part of me that I reserve to satisfy my own selfishness, how pleasing am I to God? As much as He loves me I know He wants all of me! And I, if I am honest, want all of Him. Who trumpets the song of the half-hearted?
Personally, I’m glad that God wants total obedience, total commitment, total holiness, total faithfulness, and total love. I’d hate to serve a Lord content to receive anything less than my best. God pays us the highest of compliments by desiring all of us. Only an awesome Father would be so diligent to seek 100% of His children, to bring them to a glory that surpasses our greatest imagination. Are you standing on your chair cheering!!
Is your life a puzzling contradiction of competing loyalties? Are you tired of spinning in the cycle of "I wish I didn’t"? What better time than now to ask God to give you the strength to clean out those rooms of rebellion where He is not welcome. Courage! Will you pray the prayer of the saint intent on being wholly devoted?
Holy Father, give me the strength to serve You wholeheartedly! Afford me the grace to say no to sin. Ignite in my spirit the unquenchable fire of love and reverence for You. Lord of the heavens fill my earthly jar with Your inspiring Spirit—all of me, for all of time and all for Your eternal glory! Amen.
Inspiration
