What Else Do You Need To Shed? Series

Many different types of people walk through the gates into boot camp. Rich and poor; fat and skinny; bully and timid; smart and stupid; agile and clumsy; capable and ignorant. The first task that the military has to accomplish is to make them all "equal." That's called "discipline " and everything that you may have brought with you is either sent home or discarded. The training is designed to erase the inappropriate until the military has broken you down and made you equal with the rest and until "together" has replaced "self"; just so it can bring everyone up as one fighting unit.

No individual survives the harsh training if they can't let go of things. And not just a few things here and there that make them who they are. But everything has to go!

The same applies to the army of God. Luke 9:62 describes it this way, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." All the harsh training God allows to come our way is meant to serve a purpose: it helps us to become willing vessels of his Kingdom. So in order to fit right in; we must learn to let go of everything; especially "self."

Is it possible to postpone our God-given mission because either we're not entirely ready to do so or we don't quite care the person to whom we're supposed to minister? Are previous offenses standing in the way?

There are times when our procrastination causes higher levels of judgment. If God is urging us to do something; we best get to it before it's too late.

James 4:17 explains, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." I don't believe God's Word can be any clearer than this one. Often we read parables of Christ and try to illuminate the deeper value within. But a verse that goes straight to the point and doesn't need to be deciphered ought to be taken seriously. It is definitely one of God's commands for us to drop everything and be ready to serve in the body of Christ.

Blessings...